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:

Dearest Brother Burhan,

Salaam alei kum w.r.w.b

Bhai,, What is the Dua for performing the sacrifice of the  Akika from the Quran? Are the words : In the Name of Allah, the Most merciful enough before the sacrifice of the animal.. Is this rasms correct: Rasullulah (peace be upon him) had given sadaka of equivalent amount of  gold or silver against the weight of the hair of his new born child? The child’s nail has to be cut. The mother cannot eat the meat of the Qurbani if she is giving her milk to the child?. The Meat to be distributed to the Muslims? Is it any musllim (friends/relatives) or the needy  & the poor ones?  A share of the meat to be given to the nurse who was present at the time of delivery of the baby? Are there any particular rasms to be followed as per Sunnah?

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Answer:

What is the right way to do Aqiqa?

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 no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your comment: What is the Dua for performing the sacrifice of the  Akika from the Quran?

The first thing one should do when performing the sacrifice of aqiqa is have intention in his heart that he is doing this sacrifice as a gesture of gratefulness to the Creator, who has blessed him/her with the child. For a girl, there should be a sacrifice of one sheep/goat, and for a boy it should be two.

It has been reported that the Prophet (saws) said this dua at the time of aqiqa (there is none from Quran): Allah humma hada minka wa lak. (O Allah, this (sacrifice animal) is from you and for you.)

At the time of ‘zabiha’ the dua should be: “Bismillah Allah-o-Akbar” (In the name of Allah; Allah is the Most Great.)

Your comment: Rasullulah (peace be upon him) had given sadaka of equivalent amount of  gold or silver against the weight of the hair of his new born child?

It has been reported in an authentic narration that the Prophet (saw) used to cut the hair and give sadaqa of equivalent weight of the hair in silver. Again, the intention here is the same when we shave our heads in Umrah or Hajj.. that O Allah, we submit ourselves to you, and as a sign of our humility and humbleness, we submit ourselves. Some scholars have said that the wisdom behind the cutting of the hair is that we are ever ready to sacrifice everything for the Pleasure of Allah, even our heads if need be, and thus as a gesture of this intention of sacrifice, the hair is shaved. Please note that it is not that one has to give exactly the weight of the hair in silver as sadaqa … if one gives more, it is always better in the Way of Allah.

Your comment: The child’s nail has to be cut.

Not necessary at all… unless of course the nails have grown and need to be clipped.

Your comment: The mother cannot eat the meat of the Qurbani if she is giving her milk to the child?. The Meat to be distributed to the Muslims? Is it any musllim (friends/relatives) or the needy  & the poor ones?

There is a slight difference between a ‘qurbani’ (sacrifice) and ‘sadaqa’ (charity). The ‘aqiaq’ is a qurbani. Thus the mother can eat the meat without problems (giving/not giving milk), and so can the friends, relatives and others. Yes, it is always better to remember and distribute some meat to the poor and needy at any happy occasion.

Your comment : A share of the meat to be given to the nurse who was present at the time of delivery of the baby?

Not necessary at all, unless of course you want to. There is no compulsion.

Your comment : Are there any particular rasms to be followed as per Sunnah?

The Sunnah is simple and is as follows:

Sacrifice on 7^th day, and assign the name.

Shave the head and give weight of hair in silver as sadaqa.

Eat the meat yourself and distribute to friends/family and needy.

May Allah guide you and us all to the Straight Path of Islam.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan