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Aqeeqa and Circumcision |
It is Sunnat to make Aqeeqa
on the 7th day after the birth of a child, but if this is not possible, it shold
be done on the 15th or 21st day.
If one is not capable of doing
so, then one may slaughter any time before the puberty of the child. After puberty,
the person should slaughter for himself/herself. It is required to make Aqeeqa
of two sheep for a boy and one sheep for a girl. The Aqeeqa should be divided
into three parts: one part is to be given to the poor, one to friends and family
and one part to be used in the house. It is preferable that the bones
should not be broken but separated by the joints and buried after eating.
It is also better that the child
be named by the 7th day from the time of the birth.
A good name, preferably one
of the names of the Ambiya or of a Sahabi would be of Barakat. "Mohammed" is the
best. Names such as this should never be mispronounced. During Aqeeqa (7th day) the
child's hair can also be removed and the equivalent weight in Silver should be given
in Sadaqah. Soaked Saffron can be rubbed on the child's head after the hair is removed.
It is also permissible to make
Aqeeqa of one cow for a few children, meaning 2/7 part of a cow for a boy and one
part for a girl. One should not borrow money
to make Aqeeqa as it is not compulsory on a person that cannot afford it. Aqeeqa
is not Fardh or Waajib but it is a sunnat.
Circumcision
is a Sunnat for males between the ages of 7 to 12 years. To circumcise after the
age of 12 is prohibited. It is best to circumcise at an early age, even during Aqeeqa
(7th day) as the child heals very quickly and does not suffer much. There is no
need to have functions to celebrate the process of circumcision.
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