Aqiqah donations

Why is Aqiqah important?

At Islamic Relief, we have a duty to be there for those who are most in need of our support.

Millions of people struggle everyday with poverty, with many people going days and months without proper food. Your donation could provide a family with a meal and give them the vital nutrients they need. They would also have the chance to share in the celebration of new life. The reward of this beloved Sunnah benefits so many of us.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) provided an Aqiqah to each of his two grandsons, Imam al-Hasan and Imam al-Husain.

When should you give Aqiqah?

An Aqiqah usually takes place on the seventh day after a baby’s birth. However, there’s nothing wrong with doing it at a later time.

How to perform Aqiqah?

The sacrifice is usually carried out by an adult male according to normal Sharia (halal) guidelines regarding meat. The animal(s) must be healthy, meet the requirements for minimal age for slaughter and not be slaughtered in sight of other animals.

For a baby boy, two animals are sacrificed. For a baby girl, one animal is sacrificed.

The sacrifice is then divided between the family members who are carrying out the sacrifice. It’s then handed out to the poor and needy. For family and friends, a party it’s often arranged to celebrate and share the meat.

What is the Aqiqah ceremony?

The Aqiqah is often carried out first and then accompanied by a social gathering with family and friends, where a section of the meat is shared as a meal.

How can Islamic Relief make your Aqiqah special?

Islamic Relief has designed its Aqiqah Project to allow people to donate the sacrifice meal directly to those most in need.

The Aqiqah Project provides an opportunity for those who cannot afford to purchase meat, to have the nutritional benefit of an Islamic Relief Meat Packet. The project involves the distribution of these fresh meat packets to the most vulnerable people, including women, children, the elderly and refugees. Each meat packet distributed contains a sufficient amount of meat (5kgs on average) for a family.