Can money be given in charity as Aqiqah instead of sacrificing an animal?

Question:
Can money be given in charity instead of sacrificing an animal for Aqiqah?
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Aqīqah is a feast expressing gratitude to Allah for the blessing of a child.[1]
Aqīqah is a virtuous act.[2] Aqīqah is performed by sacrificing one goat or one sheep for a baby girl, and two goats or two sheep for a baby boy.[3]
Aqīqah is a specific act of worship connected to the sacrificing of an animal. The Prophet salallahu `alayhi wasallam said,
“For a boy, there is an ‘Aqiqah. So slaughter on his behalf and remove the harm from him.”[4]
Thus, money given in charity will not be regarded as `Aqīqah. For `Aqīqah, an animal should be sacrificed.[5]
If one wants to donate in charity, he may have an Aqīqah performed in a place of need and have the meat distributed among the needy.
And Allah Ta’ālā Knows Best
Mufti Faraz Adam al-Mahmudi,
www.darulfiqh.com