Aqiqah planning checklist

Before the day

• Work out the seventh dayCount the day of birth as day one (most scholars’ way of counting), or use the calculator on the home page.
• Decide who will do itThe parent who provides for the child usually does it, from their own money; a grandparent or other relative may do it with the family’s agreement.
• Choose the animalsTwo sheep or goats for a boy and one for a girl (Sunan Abi Dawud 2834). Many scholars allow one for a boy when that is what the family can manage.
• Check each animal is healthyFree of the four defects that make an animal unfit for sacrifice: clear blindness in one eye, clear illness, clear lameness, or extreme thinness (Sunan Abi Dawud 2802).
• Arrange the slaughterWith a Muslim butcher or farm you trust, or ask a trusted organisation to do it on your behalf and give the child’s name.
• Settle on the baby’s nameA good name with a good meaning. The names most beloved to Allah are Abdullah and Abdur-Rahman (Sahih Muslim 2132).

On the day

• Make the intentionIn your heart: this is the aqiqah of this child.
• Say Allah’s name at the slaughter“Bismillah, wallahu akbar”, as the Prophet ﷺ said at his own sacrifice (Sahih Muslim 1966).
• Shave the baby’s headGently, and weigh the hair (Sunan Abi Dawud 2838 names shaving on the seventh day).
• Give the hair’s weight in silver as charityThe Prophet ﷺ told Fatimah to give the weight of al-Hasan’s hair in silver (Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 1519). Many families round up generously.
• Announce the nameIf the baby wasn’t named on the day of birth, the seventh day is the day (Sunan Abi Dawud 2838).

Sharing it

• Divide the meatEat some, give some to family, friends and neighbours, and give some to people in need. Many families divide it in thirds; there is no fixed share.
• Cook a meal if you wishMany families cook the meat and invite relatives and neighbours to celebrate the birth.
• Remember the poorIf the aqiqah is done abroad on your behalf, the meat is usually given to families in need there.
• Pray for the childAsk Allah to bless the baby and the parents. A simple dua in your own words is enough.