Ruling on `Aqiqah

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Q 1: Is the `Aqiqah (sacrifice for a newborn) Fard (obligatory) or a Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet)? If a man is able to offer `Aqiqah for his newborn but he neglects to do it, will he be considered sinful? For how long should he offer it? When a person delays offering it for one or two months with or without a permissible excuse, should he still offer the `Aqiqah?

A: `Aqiqah is a confirmed Sunnah. For a boy two sheep which meet the conditions for Ud-hiyah (sacrificial animal offered by non-pilgrims) should be slaughtered, and for a girl one sheep. The sheep should be slaughtered on the seventh day, but it is permissible to delay slaughtering them and there is no sin in delaying it, but it is better to do it as soon as possible.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions.