After the long months of pregnancy, the birth of your baby brings its own set of blessed Sunnah acts. Among the most celebrated is aqiqah — the sacrifice offered in gratitude to Allah for a newborn, traditionally performed on the seventh day after birth. This guide walks through its meaning, authentic hadith basis, modern practicalities, and the most common questions Muslim parents ask.
What is aqiqah?
Linguistically, ‘aqiqah comes from a root meaning “to cut” — both the baby’s hair and the animal sacrificed. Technically, it is the Sunnah sacrifice made on behalf of the newborn, whose meat is distributed and whose hair is shaved on the same day, accompanied by sadaqah equal to the weight of the hair in silver.
The hadith basis
Samurah ibn Jundub ʬ• narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Every child is in pledge for his aqiqah, which is sacrificed for him on the seventh day, his hair is shaved and he is given a name.” (Abu Dawud 2838, Tirmidhi 1522 — authentic.)
‘A’ishah ʬ• added that the Prophet ﷺ instructed: “For a boy, two sheep of equal value; for a girl, one sheep.” (Tirmidhi 1513 — authentic.)
What is its ruling?
- Shafi‘i, Maliki, Hanbali: Sunnah mu’akkadah (strongly recommended).
- Hanafi: Mubah (permissible good act), but many contemporary Hanafi scholars also hold it to be a recommended Sunnah.
The majority view is that it is a confirmed Sunnah for any family that can afford it. Missing it is not a sin — but performing it is a weighty act of shukr.
When should aqiqah be performed?
The Sunnah is the 7th day after birth, counting the day of birth as day one. If the baby was born on a Monday, the 7th day is the following Sunday.
If the 7th is missed, scholars recommend it on the 14th, then the 21st. If those pass, it can be done at any time afterwards — even by the person themselves as an adult (the Prophet ﷺ is reported to have performed his own aqiqah after Prophethood).
How many animals?
- Boy: Two sheep (or goats) of equal condition. If only one can be afforded, one is still valid.
- Girl: One sheep or goat.
- Alternatives: A seventh share of a cow or camel is accepted by most madhhabs, identical to Eid al-Adha rules.
How to distribute the meat
The Sunnah pattern follows the qurbani (udhiyyah) model:
- One-third for your family — it is a celebration.
- One-third for relatives, friends, and neighbours — including non-Muslim neighbours.
- One-third for the poor as sadaqah.
Many families now arrange aqiqah through reputable charities that slaughter overseas and distribute to refugees or low-income Muslim communities — this is valid and often maximises benefit.
The other 7th-day Sunnahs
- Shaving the baby’s head and giving the weight of the hair in silver as sadaqah.
- Giving the name officially — see our guide on choosing a Muslim boy’s name and girl’s name.
- Tahneek on day one — see our first 7 days Sunnah guide.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Delaying the name until after the 7th day unnecessarily.
- Using the aqiqah meat to feed only wealthy relatives and skipping the poor.
- Assuming that a simple dinner party is the same as aqiqah — the sacrifice must be an animal slaughtered specifically with aqiqah niyyah.
- Thinking aqiqah must wait until you can afford an elaborate feast. One sheep + dua is enough.
A short niyyah & dua
When the animal is slaughtered on behalf of the child, the traditional niyyah is:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُمَّ هَذِهِ عَقِيقَةُ [اسم الطفل]، لَحْمُهَا بِلَحْمِهِ وَدَمُهَا بِدَمِهِ، اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْهَا فِدَاءً لَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ
“In the name of Allah, Allah is the Greatest. O Allah, this is the aqiqah of [child’s name]; its flesh for his flesh and its blood for his blood. O Allah, make it a ransom for him from the Fire.”
Related guides
- Tahneek, adhan & the first 7 days Sunnah
- The 40-day postpartum period (nifas)
- 100 Muslim baby boy names
For scholarly specifics in your madhhab, speak to your local Imam. Download Sakina to track your 7-day timeline and newborn Sunnah checklist.