What is an Aqiqah ceremony and why is it important in Islam?

An Aqiqah is a culturally significant tradition in Islam. It involves the slaughter of a livestock animal such as a sheep or a goat, to celebrate a baby’s birth.  The meat from the sacrificed animal is then cooked and shared amongst family, friends and members of the community that are in need.  

Why do we practice Aqiqah? 

Aqiqah is a sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and a sign of gratitude to Allah for a healthy new arrival.

Aisha (RA) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Slaughter two comparable sheep for a male newborn and one sheep for a female.” [Tirmidhi]

Aqiqah is a wonderful way to commemorate a new life that has entered the world. It is a beautiful expression of Islamic culture because of its gesture of kindness towards others. Aqiqah unites the Islamic community through generous giving and celebration. 

What else does Aqiqah involve? 

In the Islamic faith, Muslims are also encouraged to shave the child’s head and donate the weight of their hair in silver to vulnerable families as a gesture of love and compassion. 

During the period that Aqiqah ceremonies were introduced, the value of silver was much greater than today’s value, relatively speaking. This is because silver was not as accessible as it is today. This meant that the donations of silver following an Aqiqah ceremony went quite far in helping those in need. While the practice of shaving the baby’s hair and making a donation is still practised today, Muslims are encouraged to donate what they can afford above the reference value of silver. 

How do Muslims practice Aqiqah today?

The world we live in today means that it is no longer practical, or indeed feasible to sacrifice livestock ourselves. This is because normal families living in urban communities no longer keep livestock, nor can you generally buy livestock. 

Because of this, those that follow the Islamic faith have adapted to ensure that they still meet their religious obligation and they do this by purchasing the sacrificed animal instead. When performing an Aqiqah ceremony you have the choice of lamb, sheep, cow or goat. So long as you buy the whole animal and it is Halal, you will be honouring your commitment to God. 

What if I cannot afford to buy a whole animal? 

We understand that these modern times often present families with financial difficulty. Fortunately, the cost of buying high-quality meat is much more affordable compared to what our ancestors had to pay. Also, the Islamic community is often happy to support struggling families in need, especially when it involves honouring a commitment to god, so do not be afraid to reach out to your local community to ask for help and guidance, if you are finding things difficult. 

At Halal Origins, we pride ourselves on delivering the highest quality organic meat, which includes lamb, beef, chicken, and goat, and we do so at the best possible price. If you are planning an Aqiqah ceremony, we would love to be part of your celebration. 

Sign up for our newsletter and check out the special offers we have available.  

Must read: What is Halal?

Other benefits of Aqiqah ceremonies 

There are other surprising benefits to Aqiqah ceremonies that are often overlooked. The sacrifice of an entire animal that is cooked and distributed within the community is actually positive for the environment. It means that less packaging is consumed and there is a smaller carbon footprint with regard to delivering and cooking the meat. This is because the meat is delivered to one address and cooked all at once, but feeds many. 

At Halal Origins, we deliver our meat directly to your door, so there is one less thing to think about. Check out our delivery options. If you order by 3 pm today, your meat will be with you in time for dinner tomorrow. 

For Aqiqah ceremonies, however, we recommend ordering further in advance, so we can make the necessary preparations for you. Our website has a dedicated page for Aqiqah because we understand how significant this ceremony is. 

Alternatively, you can call us any time and we will do our best to support your needs. 

Final words  

If you are reading this and are planning an Aqiqah ceremony, then you either have a newborn arrival or you are expecting one. Our team at Halal Origins would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you personally on your blessing and we wish you many happy returns.