In dictionary "Aq" means bursting. 'Aqeeqah are those hair which are on the head of a newly born baby. The removing of these hair and offering a goat is called Aqeeqah. It is narrated that by Anas Bin Malik that Hzt. Nabi Kareem Sal'am performed his own Aqiqua after the prophet hood. Hzt Anas Bin Malik narrated Anhazrat Sal'am sacrificed two goats for Aqeeqah of Hzt. Imam Hussain Raz. and asked Hzt. Khatoon Jannat Raz. to shave the child’s head and give silver equivalent to the weight of the hair in charity. Hzt Khatoon Jannat Raz. after shave, weighed the hair, which were equivalent to one Dirham silver or some what less.
Hadees Shareef
"It is narrated from Salman Bin Amer Raz. that he heard from Rasoolullah Salam
saying soon
after the birth of the child that it is a desirable act (Masnoon) to do Aqeeqah.
Animals are sacrificed on behalf of the new born to save him from the troubles.
Hadees Shareef
"It is narrated from Ibne Abbas Raz. that Rasool-e-Khuda Sal'am performed hair
shaving
ceremony of Imam Hasan and Imam Hussain Raz. and sacrificed one fat ram for each one,
narrated by Abu Dawood. According to Nis-ai two rams each."
It is better to sacrifice two goats for boys and if one is sacrificed, it is also permissible and one goat for girl must be sacrificed.
Hadees Shareef
Two sheep are needed for a boy and one for a girl. It does not matter if these animals are
male
or female. Imam Tirmizi says that it is true. (Mishkat)
Important. The sacrificing animal should be correct in limbs, fulfilling all conditions of sacrifice (Qurbani), seven days after the birth, 14th day, 21st day or 28th or 35th day or likewise seven days or seven months or seven years, when ever it is possible shaving hair ceremony should be performed. According to Imam Malik, Imam Shafai and Imam Ahmed Rah, hair shaving ceremony is Sunnat-e-Moakkada. The prophet practised or commanded to practice it. As per another narration it is essential (Wajib) with Imam Ahmad Rah. According to Imam Azam Rah. it is desirable (Mustahab) Saheeh Bukhari and Imam Ahmed Hamble Rah. narrate that the child whose Aqeeqah ceremony is not performed and died in child hood, will not intercess (Shifa’at) his parents. It is written in Sharah-ul-Muqaddama that the Aqeeqah is the responsibility of one who is responsible for the child’s bringing up i.e. food and clothing. If the father is unable to perform Aqeeqah and the mother can do it, she should do it. But the guardians performance of this ceremony with the money of the child is not right. i.e. the wealth is gifted to the child by somebody or it is his ancestral property.
It is better that his father, grand father or uncle sacrifices the animal or his viceregent. After sacrifice, the child’s head should be shaved and silver or gold equivalent to the weight of the hair should be distributed among the poor and the needy, and the hair should be buried in the ground. This is written in Tayyabi Mishkat. Then saffron and sandal should be applied on the head. Cow or camel may also be sacrificed and their 7th part is equal to a goat.
Intent of Slaughter for Aqeeqah (Niyyat-e-Aqeeqah Zabiha)
1. "O’God the Aqeeqa is performed on behalf of .............. son of mine. Its
blood for his blood,
its flesh for his flesh, its bones for his bones and its skin for his skin, its hair for
his hair.
O’ God make this ceremony for my son a ransom for protection from the Hell."
"I turned my face towards Almighty Allah who created the earth and the sky on the
religion of
Ibrahim Alahis Salam alone concentrating I do not join any one in His worship. Undoubtedly
my
prayer (Salat), my sacrifice (Qurbani) my life and my death is for Allah who is the
Cherisher of the Universe. None is His partner. This order is given to me and I obey His
orders.
O’ God every thing is from You and for You only.
I begin with the name of Allah who is the greatest of all.
Important. If hair shaving ceremony (Aqeeqah) is being performed for a girl child at the time of experessing the intent (Niyyat) the Pronoun should be made feminine such as (Damaha as Bedamaha) and other pronouns too should be changed suitably. At the time of expressing intent (Niyyat) the name of the boy or the girl whose ceremony is being performed, should be taken. If some body else is sacrificing instead of the father, the name of father should also be taken. i.e. so and so S/o so and so. The flesh of that goat, goat skin, bones etc should be distributed among the poor, raw or feed them after cooking. The parents, grand father and grand mother, sons, daughters grand sons, and grand daughters, should not eat it because this method is adopted by the pious people. But in the book Sharhe Mukhaddama Imam Abdullah it is written that the meat of sacrifice (Aqeeqah) is like Qurbani and can be distributed among rich and poor and the person whose Aqeeqah is being performed and his parents etc. can eat and it is permissible for them.
Distribution of Meat of Aqeeqah
(The sacrificed goat is to be disbursed as)
The head of the goat to the hair dresser, one thigh to mid wife, and one part of the meat to poor and dependents of Allah, two parts of it to friends and neighbours.