Can u please tell me the complete procedure of aqeeqah of a girl or boy and can it be done wid abiha of a cow.
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One of our brothers/sisters has asked
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assalamualaikum
1)can u please tell me the complete procedure of aqeeqah of a girl or boy and
can it be done wid
abiha of a cow
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Answer:
Aqiqa with cow
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His
help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide,
and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear
witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear
witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His
Messengers.
The Aqiqa sacrifice is not obligatory or ‘fard’ in Islam;
but rather it is a preferred Sunnah and voluntary. If one does offer this sacrifice as a form of
gratitude to his Merciful Creator for the gift of the child which The Lord Most
Gracious has bestowed upon them, there is a huge reward, and if one does not
offer it for any reason, there is no sin.
The Aqiqa is the responsibility of the parents/guardians
of the new-born, and if the parents/guardians of the new-born did not perform
the Aqiqa sacrifice for their new-born in their infancy for any reason
whatsoever, there is no compulsion or need for the child to offer this
sacrifice later or when he grows up.
Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 2832 Narrated by Samurah ibn Jundub
The Prophet (saws) said: ‘A child is in
pledge for his ‘Aqiqah’, sacrifice is made for it on the seventh day, its head
is shaved, and it is given a name.’
It is Sunnah to offer the Aqiqa sacrifice on the 7th
day of the birth of the child; but if for any reason one is unable to offer it
on the 7th day and wishes to offer it later, it is expected that his
sacrifice will be accepted by the Lord Most Merciful.
When offering an ‘aqiqah’ sacrifice, the Sunnah or
practice of the Messenger of Allah (saws) was always to slaughter sheep. Cattle (cows, etc.) and camels were normally
slaughtered as a rite during pilgrimage.
There is absolutely no example in the authentic and established
traditions of the Messenger of Allah (saws) or his noble companions
slaughtering cattle or camels for ‘aqiqah’ sacrifice; their practice was always
to slaughter the prescribed number of sheep during ‘aqiqah’; at least two sheep
for a new-born baby boy, and one sheep for a new-born baby girl.
Thus, if you wish to offer the ‘aqiqah’ sacrifice as a
sign of gratefulness to Allah Subhanah for His gift of a child, it is best to
follow the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) and sacrifice the prescribed
number of sheep for each child…..but if for any reason one wishes to offer a
cow or a camel as the ‘aqiqah’ sacrifice, the majority of the scholars are of
the opinion that there is no harm.
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only
due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me
alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is
the Only Source of Strength.
Your brother and
well wisher in Islam,
Burhan
Wister