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