AQIQAH – CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF YOUR CHILD

What is Aqiqah?

‘Aqīq consists of giving a name to the baby, shaving its hair, and offering a sacrifice.  It is  recommended that the new-born baby should be given either a compound name containing one of the most beautiful names of Allah (e.g. ‘Abd al-Hamīd), or the name of holy figures.

Aqiqah, an Islamic terminology, is defined as the animal that is slaughtered on the occasion of child birth. For the child there should be aqiqah, on behalf of the child make sacrifice and remove the hair. Hadith (Bukhari)

When should Aqiqah be performed?

The preferable method for Aqiqah is that it should be preformed on the seventh day if not then the 14th or 21st and so on. Some scholars have said that this can be carried on till the child has become mature and say Aqiqah can be performed then. However after this period performing Aqiqah is irrelevant. Some scholars given the Fatwa that Aqiqah is valid till the day of ones death. If someone after becoming an adult performs his own Aqiqah, according to some scholars it is not valid but according to some scholars it’s permissible as it is also understood form Fadhul Bari.

What is the purpose of Aqiqah?

The performance of Aqiqah is highly encouraged. It is to be performed by the parents or the guardians of the child. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his companions used to perform Aqiqah when they were bestowed with a newborn. There are many benefits in the performance of Aqiqah. One is the announcing the birth of the baby. Being bestowed a child is a great blessing from the Creator. Another purpose is inviting family members, neighbors, and friends to celebrate the blessed occasion. The poor should be included in the celebration by offering them food and meat served on this occasion.

Narrated Salman bin 'Amri Ad-Dabbi (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, ‘Aqiqa is to be offered for a (newly born) boy.’ " (Sahih al-Bukhari)

(note: it has been quoted in fateh-al-bari that the majority of the religious scholars agrees to the hadith narrated in sahih at-tlrmlzy that  the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) was asked about aqiqa and he (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) ordered 2 sheep for a boy and one sheep for a girl and that is his tradition "sunna".)

Types of animals to be slaughtered

The following is a hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) where he advised Aqiqah a goat/sheep.

The Prophet of Allah(peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Two sheep which resemble each other are to be sacrificed for a boy and one for a girl.” (Sunan Abu Dawood Book 15, No. 2830)

The condition of the animal for aqiqah

The condition of the animals in Aqiqah is the same as the conditions for the animals in Qurbani. The animals to be slaughtered must be a goats, cows or camels. For camels, it must be older than 6 years, for cows the age must be older than 3 years and for goats, it must be older than 2 years. They must be free from any form of handicap such as blind, sick, limp and undernourished. The animals must be slaughtered in the appropriate humane ways.

Dua

In the Name of Allah and through Allah, this is the ‘aqīqa of…. (name of the boy), son of …. (name of the father): its flesh [i.e., the flesh of the sacrifice of the ‘aqīqa] for his flesh blood, its bone for his bone, its hair for his hair, its skin for his skin.  O Allah, let it be a protection of the family of Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family.

Bi-’smi ’llāhi wa-bi ’llāh.  Allāhumma hādhihi ‘aqīqatun ‘an …. (name of the boy)

Ibne …. (name of the father) lahmu-hābi-lahmi-hi wa-damu-hābi-dami-hi wa-‘azmu-hābi-‘azmi-hi wa-sha’ru-hā bisha’ri-hi wa-jildu-hābi-jildi-h.  Allāhumma’j΄al-hā waqā’an li-āli Muhammadin ‘alay-hi wa-āli-hi s-salām.

The hair of the baby s shaved. It is recommended to weigh the cut hair in silver, and give its value to the poor or to orphans as alms.  A goat, a sheep or other such animal should be sacrificed either after shaving the hair or at the same time, but not before.  It is recommended to read the following prayer at the time when the animal is about to be slaughtered:

O gathering, I am free from what you associate; I turn my face to He who split the heavens and the earth, a true believer and a Muslim, and not one of the polytheists.  My prayer, my piety, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the Words.  O Allah, from You and to You, in the Name of Allah; Allah is greater.  O Allah, bless Muhammad, and accept [this] from … (name of the child).

Son / daughter of …… (name of the father).

Yā qawmi innī barī’un mim-mā tushrikūna innī wajjahtu wajhīya li-’lladhī fatara s-samāwāti wa-l-arda hanīfam musliman, wa-mā anā mina l-mushrikīna.   Inna salāt-ī wa nusuk-ī wa-mahyāyā wa-mamāt-īli-’llāhi rabbil-‘alamīna sharīka la-h.

Wa-bi dhālika umirtu wa-anā mina l-muslimīna allāhumma min-ka wa-la-kabi-’smi’llāhi wa-’llāhu akabar.

Allāhumma salli ‘alā Muhammadin wa-āli Muhammadin wa-taqabbal min…..

(name of child) ibni (for a boy) / binti (for a girl) …. (name of father)

After the sacrifice, the greater part of the meat should be distributed among the poor and needy.  It may also be served to the guests, but it is disapproved for the parents of the baby and their dependents to eat it.

If, due to any reason, ‘aqīq is not performed on the seventh day after the birth of the child, it may be offered later on, at any time, even by the child itself after attaining puberty.

This rite is not obligatory but recommended, and there are many Traditions which emphasize it.

Dua 252 According to Imam Jafar bin Muhammad as Sadiq recite either of the following dua at the time of slaughtering the animal for aqiqah (The ceremony of shaving the hair of an infant on the sixth day after birth)

If the child is a female say words in brackets :

In the name of Allah and by Allah, this aqiqa (sheep slaughtered) is of (mention the name of the child with father’s name); its flesh (instead of) his/her flesh, its blood (instead of) his/her blood, its bones, (instead of) his/her bones (are offered) to You. O Allah, (accept it) as that by which (this child) may be protected and preserved, in the name of the children of Muhammad, blessings of Allah be on him and on his children, and peace.

In the name of Allah, by Allah, praise be to Allah, Allah is the greatest, faith is in Allah, thanks to the messenger of Allah (blessings of Allah be on him and on his children) for safeguarding His command, gratitude for His sustenance, and awareness of us Ahl ul Bayt (our merits) by His grace.

Recite the following if the child is male :

O Allah, verily You have given us a son. You alone know what You have given and what has been granted, and (You alone know everything about) whatever You create. So accept (our offering offered) in accordance with Your command and the traditions of Your prophet and messenger (blessings of Allah be on him and on his children), and keep away the accursed Shaytan from us. This blood is pouring out for Your sake only (a.s.) there is no partner to share (it) with You, O my Allah, praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. O my Allah, this meat (instead of) his meat, this blood (instead of) his blood, these bones (instead of) his bones., these hair (instead of) his hair, this skin (instead of) his skin (are offered to You), so O my Allah, accept this (sacrifice) instead of the sacrifice of (mention the name of the child.

BISMILLAAHI WA BILLAAHI ALLAAHUMMA HAAD'IHEE A'QEEQATUN A'N (mention the name of the child with father's name) LAH'MUHAA BILAH'MIHEE (BILAH'MIHAA) WA DAMUHAA BIDAMIHEE (BIDAMIHAA) WA A'Z'MUHAA BI-A'Z'MIHEE (BIA'Z'MIHAA) ALLAAHUMMAJ-A'LHAA WIQAA -AN LAHOO (LAHAA) BI-AALI MUH'AMMADIN S'ALLALLAAHU A'LAYHI WA AALIHEE WA SALLAM

BISMILLAAHI WA BILLAAHI WALH'AMDU LILLAAHI WALLAAHU AKBAR EEMAANAN BILLAAHI WA THANAA-AN A'LAA RASOOLILLAAHI S'ALLALLAAHU A'LAYHI WA AALIHEE WAL A'S'MATU LI-AMRIHEE WASH SHUKRU LIRIZQIHEE WAL MA-RIFATU BIFAZ LIHEE A'LAYNAA AHLIL BAYTI

ALLAAHUMMA INNKA WAHABTA LANAA D'AKARAN WA ANTA A'-LAMU BIMAA WAHABTA WA MINKA MAA A'T'AYTA WA KULLAMAA S'ANA -TA FATAQABBAALHU MINAA A'LAA SUNNATIKA WA SUNNATI NABIYYIKA WA RASOOLIKA S'ALLALLAAHU A'LAYHI WA AALIHEE WAKH-SA A'NNASH SHAYT'AANAR RAJEEMA LAKA SAFAKTUD DIMAA-A LAA SHAREEKA LAKA ALLAAHUMMA WAL H'AMDU LILLAAHI RABBIL A'ALAMEEN ALLAAHUMMA LAH'MUHAA BILAH'MIHEE WA DAMUHAA BIDAMIHEE WA A'Z'MUHAA BI-A'Z'MIHEE WA SHA'RUHAA BISHA - RIHEE WA JILDUHAA BIJILDIHEE ALLAAHUMMAJ-A'LHU FIDAA-AN

After the birth of a baby, it is recommended that the adhān Should be recited in its right ear and the iqāma in its left ear.  This act should be performed after the child is washed and wrapped in a cloth, or later, within a few days.

CIRCUMCISION

The circumcision (khatn or khitan, or in many Islamic countries simply sunna) of a male child is an obligation on every Muslim before the child reaches puberty. If the parents fail to have this rite performed, it is the duty of every adult uncircumcised Muslim to be circumcised. Those who embrace Islam should also perform this rite if they are not ready circumcision is not mentioned in the Qur’an, but it is much emphasized in the Traditions, and the consensus of the ulema is that it is obligatory on all Muslims.

Circumcision should preferably be performed when the baby is only a few days old, or otherwise at any time before his puberty. In many countries it is normally carried out between the ages of three and seven, but it is recommended to perform this rite on the seventh day after the birth of the child. Facilities for circumcision are normally provided at hospitals.

In this rite also it is recommended to invite guests and family friends and arrange food for the poor. It is also recommended to recite the following prayer at the time of the circumcision:

Allahumma hadhihi sunnatu-ka wa-sunatu nabiy-ka salawatu-ka ‘alay-hi wa-ali-hi- wa- ’ttaba‘u mithali-ka wa-kutubi-ka li-mashi’ ati-ka wa-iradati-ka wa-qada’I-kal-amrin aradta-hu wa-qada’in hatamta-huwa-hukmin anfadhta-hu fa-’rja‘‘ an-hu hurra l-hadidi fi khitani-hi wa-hajamati-hi l-amrin, anta a‘rafu bi-hi min-ni. Allahumma fa-tahhir -hu mina dh-dhunubi wa-zid-ni‘umri-hi wa-’dfi ‘l-afat ‘an badani-hi wa-l-aqja‘a ‘an jisim-hi wa-zid-hu fi l-ghina wa-’dfa‘‘ an-hu l-faqra fa-inna-ka ta‘lamu wa-la na ‘lam.

"O Allah, this is Your practice and the practice of Your Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), Your blessings be upon him and his family; obeying Your ideal and Your Books is the result of Your volition, and Your will and judgement you decreed, a rule You executed. So take away from him the pain of the knife in his circumcision and his scarification through a command – You are more knowing of it than I, O Allah. And cleanse him of sins, prolong his life for me, drive away injury and pain from his body, increase him in wealth, and fend off poverty from him; for You know and we do not."

Dua'a 251 According to Imam Jafar bin Muhammad as Sadiq recite the following du-a'a at the time of circumcision.

"O Allah, this (we do) in compliance with Your command and the traditions of Your prophet, Your blessings be on him and on his children, to obey You and Your prophet to fulfill Your will, intention, and to carry out the rules You have decided to make to be followed unconditionally according to which he has to experience the heat of ir0on in circumcision, and bleeding suitability of which You know better then us. O Allah, cleanse him of sins, let him live a long natural life, protect him from all dangers to his body, and let him never suffer the pangs of hunger and anguish of poverty, because You know and we do not." (Under Construction)

ALLAAHUMMA HAAD'IHEE SUNNATUKA WA SUNNATU NABIYYIKA S'ALAWAATUKA A'LAYHI WA AALIHEE ITTIBAA-A'N MINNA LAKA WA LINABIYYIKA BIMASHIYYATIKA WA BI-IRAADATIKA WA QAZ'AA-IKA LI-AMRIN ARADATTAHOO WA QAZ-AA -IN H'ATAMTAHOO WA AMRIN ANFAD'TAHOO AD'AQTAHOO H'ARRAL HA'DEEDI FEE KHITAANIHEE WA H'IJAAMATIHEE BI-AMRIN ANTA A'-RAFU BIHEE MINNAA ALLAAHUMMA FAT'AHHIRHU AMINAD D'UNOOBI FAZID FEE U'MRIHEE WAD-FA-I'L AAFAATI AM BADANIHEE WAL AWJAA-A A'N JISMIHEE WAD-FA A'NHUL FAQRA FA INNAKA TA'LAMU WA NAH'NU LAA NA'-LAMU