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Assalamu Alaikum

Please can you explain to me why during aqiqah, 2 goats are sacrificed for the boy but only one is required for a girl. Also, why is it that a woman usually equals half of a man, for example during giving evidence or witnessing a marriage.

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Answer:

Aqiqa & 2 witnesses women

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Your Question: Please can you explain to me why during aqiqah, 2 goats are sacrificed for the boy but only one is required for a girl.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 2829 Narrated by Umm Kurz

I heard the Prophet (saws) say: ‘Two sheep are to be sacrificed for a boy and one for a girl, but it does you no harm whether they (the sheep) are male or female.’

Dear and Beloved Sister in Islam, to understand the wisdom behind the hadith, one must relate to the times of ignorance before the advent of the Prophet (saws), where it was an accepted custom in the region that the Arabs would bury their new-born alive if it happened to be a girl. It is in the inherent nature of man that he is more joyous when he is given news that a son is to be born to him rather than a daughter; and that feeling is confirmed even in this day and age in nations like India and China where a large percentage of the abomination of abortions are carried out only because modern technology has allowed man to determine whether the child to be born would be a male or a female. Leave alone offer a sacrifice as a sign of being grateful or celebrate the birth of a female child, the ignorant and evil amongst mankind were willing to even kill or abort the infant if it happened to be a girl!

With the advent of Islam, Allah and His Messenger (saws) guided the believers to be grateful for whatever the Lord Wills to provide them; and be joyous and celebrate the birth of the new-born, whether it be a girl or a boy; but because of the inherent nature of man who is happier to receive the news of a boy, Allah and His Messenger (saws) guided the believers to show their appreciation and gratefulness to the Lord by offering a double sacrifice.

One should also understand that one sacrifice for the new-born girl and two for the new-born boy is the minimum one may offer as a sign of his being grateful to the Lord Most Gracious; but if one is so joyous at the birth of one’s child, regardless of whether it is a boy or a girl, and wills to offer more than the minimum number he may offer as many sacrifices as he wishes as a sign of his being grateful to his Lord Most Gracious. If one is so happy and joyous at the birth of a baby-girl which the Lord Willed to provide them, there is absolutely no harm if one shows one’s gratefulness for the Mercy and Grace of their Lord and celebrates the birth by sacrificing a hundred or a thousand camels or even more, if one so wishes!

Your Question: Also, why is it that a woman usually equals half of a man, for example during giving evidence or witnessing a marriage.

Allah Says in the Glorious Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imraan verse 36 (part):

…and the male is not like the female!

Allah Subhanah declares in His Glorious Quran that the male is ‘not like’ the female, and He, in His Supreme Wisdom and Knowledge has made one to excel the other.

It would be absolutely incorrect and unfair for a society to treat as ‘equal’ what the Creator has declared as unequal! The so called modern-educated but ignorant and un-Godly societies which have tried to challenge and reverse the bestowed nature and declare the men and women as equal have paid an enormous price in the forming of their families, in their homes, and in their lives!

Contrary to popular belief, men and women are not created equal by the All-Wise, All Knowing Lord; but rather, they are balanced! For the test period of this one transitory life, each has been given a set of duties and responsibilities by Allah Subhanah best suited according to their bestowed nature. Thus Allah Subhanah has decreed a separate but balanced test for the man and the woman in the life of this world, each according to its bestowed nature.

The societies which have propagated the ‘equality’ amongst the sexes have obviously not understood the nature of the man and the woman like the One Who Created their nature! The Creator has bestowed on the man and the woman ‘balance’ so that they may complement each other; but the ignorant and un-Godly society insist on making them ‘equal’ so that they may ‘compete’ against each other! Thus for them to declare ‘equality’ when the Creator has declared them ‘balanced’ is outright incorrect and unfair!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 282:

282 O ye who believe! When ye deal with each other in transactions involving future obligations in a fixed period of time reduce them to writing. Let a scribe write down faithfully as between the parties: let not the scribe refuse to write as Allah has taught him so let him write. Let him who incurs the liability dictate but let him fear his Lord Allah and not diminish aught of what he owes. If the party liable is mentally deficient or weak or unable himself to dictate let his guardian dictate faithfully. And get two witnesses out of your own men and if there are not two men then a man and two women such as ye choose for witnesses so that if one of them errs the other can remind her. The witnesses should not refuse when they are called on (for evidence). Disdain not to reduce to writing (your contract) for a future period whether it be small or big: it is juster in the sight of Allah more suitable as evidence and more convenient to prevent doubts among yourselves; but if it be a transaction which ye carry out on the spot among yourselves there is no blame on you if ye reduce it not to writing. But take witnesses whenever ye make a commercial contract; and let neither scribe nor witness suffer harm. If ye do (such harm) it would be wickedness in you. So fear Allah; for it is Allah that teaches you. And Allah is well acquainted with all things.

The bestowed nature of women is such that she is blessed by her Creator with much more emotions and compassion than the men, and the Lord Most Gracious, in His Mercy and Grace, has saved her from being put in a situation of undue trial by being called for as a witness, where one has to state and relate the absolute truth and facts devoid of any partiality, leanings, emotion or compassion.

If there are men witnesses available, one should not call upon the women to bear witness to the financial contract; but in a situation where one is unable to assemble two male witnesses, Islam has permitted that two women may be called as witness and the wisdom behind this Command is related by none other than the One Who is All-Knowing, All-Wise: ‘so that if one of them errs the other can remind her.’

It is only in specific situations like financial transactions where the Lord has guided that two female witnesses may be brought forth as against one male witness; but in all other civil or criminal cases where a witness is required like murder, theft, rape, adultery, slander, etc., Shariah Law would accept the witness of one women equivalent to the witness of one man.

Your Statement: Before I sign off, I`d like to say you are doing a wonderful job. This site has given me so much guidance recently.

May Allah Subhanah reward you with the best of this world and the Hereafter for your kind comments of encouragement for our humble efforts in the propagation of the Truth. If our humble and modest efforts have helped even one brother or sister get closer to Allah and His Deen of Truth, then we would consider ourselves indeed fortunate to have been given this opportunity by the Lord Most Merciful to serve in His Cause. We hope, beg, and pray the Merciful Lord accepts our humble and weak efforts, forgives us our shortcomings, and saves you, us, and all the believers from the torment of the Hell Fire. Ameen.

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