Aqiqah: The Complete Guide (Rules, Timing, Boy or Girl)

You have a newborn, a recovering body or a recovering partner, a house full of visitors, and somewhere in the middle of it someone asks: “So when’s the aqiqah?” Suddenly there are questions about sheep, days, invoices and who gets the meat.

The aqiqah is meant to be a joy, not a project. This guide covers what it is, what the hadith actually say, where the schools of law differ, and how to arrange it simply, whether you live next to a farm in Pakistan or in a flat in Birmingham.

What aqiqah is

The aqiqah (‘aqiqah) is an animal sacrificed in thanks to Allah for a new child. The meat is shared with family, friends and people in need. It is traditionally done on the seventh day, alongside naming the baby and shaving their head.

Evidence · Hadith

كُلُّ غُلاَمٍ رَهِينَةٌ بِعَقِيقَتِهِ تُذْبَحُ عَنْهُ يَوْمَ سَابِعِهِ وَيُحْلَقُ وَيُسَمَّى

“Every child is held in pledge for his aqiqah, which is sacrificed for him on the seventh day, and his head is shaved and he is named.” Narrated by Samurah ibn Jundub (RA).

Evidence · Hadith

مَعَ الْغُلاَمِ عَقِيقَةٌ، فَأَهْرِيقُوا عَنْهُ دَمًا وَأَمِيطُوا عَنْهُ الأَذَى

“With a newborn boy there is an aqiqah, so sacrifice on his behalf and remove harm from him.” Narrated by Salman ibn ‘Amir ad-Dabbi (RA).

Scholars have explained “held in pledge” in different ways, and “remove harm” is often understood as shaving the head. You don’t need to settle these to do the aqiqah well. What matters is the gratitude behind it.

Is it obligatory?

This is where the schools differ, and it is worth knowing so that nobody makes you feel you have failed:

How many animals

The hadith mention two sheep (or goats) for a boy and one for a girl.

Evidence · Hadith

عَنِ الْغُلاَمِ شَاتَانِ وَعَنِ الْجَارِيَةِ شَاةٌ لاَ يَضُرُّكُمْ أَذُكْرَانًا كُنَّ أَمْ إِنَاثًا

“For a boy two sheep, and for a girl one sheep, and it does not matter whether they are male or female.” Narrated by Umm Kurz (RA).

‘Aishah (RA) reported the same two-and-one instruction (Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 1513, graded Sahih by al-Albani), and another narration frames it as an option: “If anyone has a child born to him and wishes to offer a sacrifice on its behalf…” (Sunan Abi Dawud 2842, graded Hasan by al-Albani).

There is also this:

Evidence · Hadith

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sacrificed a ram for al-Hasan and a ram for al-Husayn. Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbas (RA).

So scholars hold:

• Two for a boy, one for a girl is the fuller, better practice according to most.
• One for a boy is enough according to many, based on the narration above. IslamWeb, for example, says one suffices if two are not possible. The Maliki school is known for holding one animal per child, boy or girl.
• The animals’ sex doesn’t matter, as the hadith says.

When

The sunnah time is the seventh day. Scholars differ slightly on counting: most count the day of birth as day one if the baby was born before sunset (so a baby born on a Friday has the aqiqah on Thursday), while some begin counting from the next day. Ask your scholar if it matters to you.

If the seventh day passes:

• The 14th or 21st day. Many scholars, including Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta, give these as the next preferred days.
• Any time after. Many allow it whenever you are able, even years later.
• A narrower view. Some scholars tie it to the seventh day or to childhood, after which it lapses. That is one more reason to ask early.

And before birth? It doesn’t count. The aqiqah is thanks for a child who has arrived.

The animal

Most scholars apply the same conditions as the Eid sacrifice (udhiyah). In summary:

• Type. Sheep and goats are the most common. Many scholars also allow a cow or camel; the schools differ on whether a share of a larger animal (such as one-seventh of a cow) counts for an aqiqah.
• Age. The usual udhiyah minimums apply. Your butcher or charity will know these; ask them to confirm.
• Health. The animal should be free of obvious defects: clearly blind in one eye, clearly sick, clearly lame, or very thin and weak.
• Slaughter. It must be done in the Islamic way, by a Muslim, with the name of Allah.

Many families say a short intention and dua at the time, such as Bismillah, Allahu akbar, and mention that it is the aqiqah for their child by name.

Sharing the meat

There is no single required split, and this is the part where you have the most freedom.

• Your family may eat from it. Scholars agree there is no harm in this.
• Give to relatives, friends and neighbours. This is part of the joy.
• Give to people in need. Most scholars say some should go to the poor, and many say this is the best part of it.
• Cook it as a meal. Inviting people to share a cooked meal is a common and accepted way to distribute aqiqah meat. Some families divide it into thirds (family, gifts, poor), following the custom for the Eid sacrifice; that’s a good habit, not a requirement.
• Don’t sell any part of it. Most scholars hold this, as with the udhiyah. The skin can be given away or used.

Across heritages the meal looks different: a pot of biryani for the whole street, a Moroccan tagine for the family, a Malaysian kenduri with neighbours, a Somali gathering with rice and goat, or a quiet barbecue in the garden with grandparents on a video call. The form changes with your family; the sunnah stays the same.

Doing it through a charity abroad

For many families in Muslim-minority countries, arranging a sacrifice locally isn’t practical. Halal abattoirs may not take private orders, and many local councils don’t allow home slaughter. Common options:

1. A local halal butcher. Many in the UK, US, Canada and Australia take aqiqah orders: they slaughter, cut and pack the meat for you to collect.
2. A family member back home. A relative in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Morocco or Somalia arranges it and shares the meat locally.
3. A charity. Many Muslim charities offer aqiqah sacrifices and give the meat to families in need.

Most scholars allow you to appoint someone (wakalah) to sacrifice on your behalf. Before you pay a charity, check:

• that they confirm the date it was carried out, ideally with the child’s name;
• that the animal meets the usual conditions;
• that they explain where the meat goes;
• and whether you’d like some of the meat yourself (abroad, you usually can’t).

Special situations

• Twins (or more). Each child has their own aqiqah. For twin boys, that means two animals each by the fuller practice, or one each by the view that one suffices.
• A premature or poorly baby. The aqiqah doesn’t depend on the baby being home. It can go ahead on day seven while your baby is still in the neonatal unit. Shaving the head can wait until doctors say it’s safe.
• A baby who died. If you have lost a baby, we are so sorry. Some scholars recommend still offering the aqiqah as thanks for the child Allah gave you, even briefly; others don’t require it. There is no burden on grieving parents here. Ask a scholar you trust, gently and in your own time.
• Converts and new Muslims. If your children were born before you became Muslim, scholars differ on whether an aqiqah applies. A local imam can guide you; nothing is expected that you couldn’t have known.

Checklist

Print this, or copy it into your notes.

Before the birth

• Decide on your budget, and whether you’ll do one or two animals for a boy
• Choose a butcher, relative or charity and check their process
• Ask your scholar which view to follow on timing and counting, if it matters to you
• Shortlist names (see how to choose a Muslim baby name)

Around day seven

• Confirm the date and send the child’s name to whoever is doing the sacrifice
• Shave the baby’s head if you plan to, and give charity (see shaving the baby’s head)
• Announce the name
• Arrange collection or delivery of the meat

Sharing

• Set aside some for people in need
• Share with family, friends and neighbours
• Cook a simple meal if you’d like to gather people
• Make dua together for your child

If the seventh day passes

• Aim for the 14th or 21st day, or whenever you can, and don’t feel guilty

Keep it simple

The aqiqah sits inside a week that also holds sleepless nights, feeding, stitches and a lot of love. None of it needs to be perfect or expensive. If the mother is recovering, let others handle the logistics. If something slips, do it when you can.

For the full first week, see what to do when a Muslim baby is born, and for the years ahead, our Islamic milestones checklist from birth to 18.