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Aqiqa is one of Islam's most beloved sunnahs — a sacrifice performed to give thanks to Allah for the blessing of a new child. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) offered aqiqas for his grandsons Hassan and Hussein, and it remains a cherished act of worship for Muslim families today.
Aisha (RA) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "Slaughter two comparable sheep for a male newborn and one sheep for a female." [Tirmidhi]
While aqiqa is recommended within the first seven days of a child's birth, it can be performed at any point. Your sacrifice doesn't just honour your child: it delivers fresh, nourishing meat to families who rarely have enough to eat.
Your aqiqa is handled with full care and Shariah compliance from the moment you give.
Step 1 — Animal selection
Our local teams in the region source only the healthiest, well-cared-for animals, selected according to strict Islamic guidelines.
Step 2 — Sacrifice
Your animal is slaughtered by trained local teams in full accordance with Islamic principles, ensuring your aqiqa is valid and accepted.
Step 3 — Distribution within days
We aim to perform your sacrifice within 2–3 weeks of your donation. The meat is immediately distributed to vulnerable families — providing 7–8 families with 2kg of fresh meat each.
Step 4 — Your confirmation report
We'll send you a personalised report confirming when and where your aqiqa was performed and how many people it helped.
In brief:
✓ Locally sourced animals
✓ Shariah-compliant slaughter
✓ Distributed to verified families in need
✓ Confirmation report sent to you
Aqiqah is prescribed for every child. Thus give thanks on its behalf, and remove the harm off it.
Hadith | Tirmidhi
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Aqiqa (also written as aqiqah) is an Islamic tradition in which an animal is sacrificed to celebrate the birth of a child and give thanks to Allah. It follows the example of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), who performed aqiqa for his grandsons Hassan and Hussein.
Aqiqa is a highly encouraged sunnah that carries deep spiritual significance. It is an expression of gratitude to Allah for the gift of a child, a means of protecting the newborn, and an act of charity that feeds those in need. It also connects the child to the wider Muslim community from the very beginning of their life.
It is recommended to perform aqiqa on the seventh day after a child's birth. If that is not possible, it can be done on the fourteenth or twenty-first day — or at any point thereafter. There is no expiry on this sunnah; it can be fulfilled at any stage of the child's life, or even by an adult for themselves if it was never performed.
Aqiqa involves the slaughter of one sheep or goat for a baby girl, and two for a baby boy. The meat is distributed to family, neighbours, and those in need. With Human Appeal, you can fulfil this sunnah from £110 — our teams handle the sacrifice and distribution on your behalf, and send you a confirmation report.
The animal must be healthy and free from defects — similar to the requirements for Qurbani. Two animals are recommended for a boy and one for a girl. It should ideally be performed on the seventh day, though it remains valid beyond this. The name of Allah must be mentioned at the time of slaughter, and it is sunnah to shave the baby's head and give the equivalent weight in silver to charity on the same day.
The aqiqa ceremony involves the sacrifice of the animal, the distribution of meat, and often a gathering of family and community to welcome the new child. It is also tradition to shave the baby's head on this occasion and give charity equal to the weight of the hair in silver. Many families also choose a name for the child during this gathering.
Aqiqa is the responsibility of the father or the child's guardian. If the father is unable to pay, other family members may contribute. It is not obligatory for the mother to pay, though she may do so if she wishes.
The three main elements of aqiqa are: (1) the sacrifice of the animal, (2) shaving the baby's head and giving charity equal to the weight of the hair in silver, and (3) giving the child a good Islamic name — ideally on the seventh day.
Muslims perform aqiqa to fulfil a prophetic sunnah, to give thanks to Allah for the blessing of a child, and to share that blessing with those in need. It is also understood to be a means of protection for the child and a formal introduction of the baby to the Muslim community.
An aqiqa gathering (sometimes called an aqiqah party) is a celebration of the newborn's arrival. Family and friends come together, the sacrifice is completed, and food — often including the meat from the sacrificed animal — is shared. The baby's head may be shaved, a name is announced, and prayers are offered for the child's wellbeing.
Aqiqa is a strongly recommended sunnah (sunnah mu'akkadah) but is not considered obligatory (fard) by most scholars. However, it is highly encouraged, and the Prophet (ﷺ) performed it for his own grandchildren. Many scholars advise against neglecting it without good reason.
Yes. If aqiqa was not performed at birth, it can be carried out at any point in a person's life. Some scholars say a parent can still perform it for an adult child, and others hold that an individual can perform their own aqiqa if their parents did not do so.
Both involve the sacrifice of an animal according to Islamic guidelines, but they serve different purposes. Qurbani is performed at Eid al-Adha to commemorate the sacrifice of Ibrahim (AS) and is obligatory for eligible Muslims. Aqiqa is performed to celebrate the birth of a child and is a sunnah, not a pillar of Islam.
Yes — you can give aqiqa on behalf of a child, an adult, or even a deceased person if it was never performed during their lifetime.
Human Appeal is committed to providing aid in the country or programme that you select. In the event we complete the programme, exceed the required funds, or are denied access to a particular country for reasons beyond our control, Human Appeal reserves the right to reallocate your donation to another programme where it is needed most.
