Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalam wa alaikum,

i want to know what is the importance of HAQEEQHA in islam and why is it done? and what is the proceedure to perform haqeeqha for a adult female and adult male!

hope you will reply for my question very soon..am eagerly waiting..

Allah hafiz

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Answer:

Significance of aqeeqa

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.

Your Question: i want to know what is the importance of HAQEEQHA in islam and why is it done?

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 7^th day of the birth of the child; but if for any reason one is unable to offer it on the 7^th day and wishes to offer it later, it is expected that his sacrifice will be accepted by the Lord Most Merciful.

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.

Your Question: and what is the proceedure to perform haqeeqha for a adult female and adult male!

The Aqiqa sacrifice is not obligatory or ‘fard’ in Islam; but rather it is a 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 He 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 of the new-born, and if the parents 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 an when he grows up.

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