Section
His Guidance concerning ‘Aqīqah (the Sacrifice for a Newborn)

Al-Muwatta’ (1) reports that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was asked about ‘aqīqah and said: “I do not like ‘uqūq (disobedience to parents),” as though he disliked the name. It is reported through Zayd ibn Aslam, from a man of Banū Damrah, from his father. Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr said (2): The best of its chains of transmission is the one reported by ‘Abd al-Razzāq (3): Dāwūd ibn Qays narrated to us, saying: I heard ‘Amr ibn Shu‘ayb narrating from his father, from his grandfather, who said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was asked about ‘aqīqah and said: “I do not like ‘uqūq (disobedience to parents),” as though he disliked the name. They asked: “O Messenger of Allah, may one of us offer a sacrifice on behalf of his child?” He replied: “Whoever among you wishes to offer a sacrifice on behalf of his child, let him do so: two sheep for a boy and one sheep for a girl.”

It is also authentically reported from him, in a hadith narrated by ‘Ā’ishah: “Two sheep for a boy and one sheep for a girl” (4).

He said: “Every boy is held in pledge by his ‘aqīqah, which is slaughtered on his behalf on the seventh day; his head is shaved and he is named” (5).