Aqeeqah: Differences Between Boys and Girls
Posted: 23 Rabi-u-Thani 1422, 15 July 2001
Q.) Recently one of my friends was contacted by a sikh lady and she said, "If you can answer this question I will become a Muslim." The question was why in Islam at the time of aqeeqah two goats are sacrificed for a male child while only one is required for a female child? Please can you explain to me the reason. Jazakallah [Yahya, UK] |
A.) Before answering your question it will be pertinent to make three points:
Keeping these points in mind it is not at all necessary to know or fully understand the reason that why two goats are offerred as sacrifice for Aqeeqah of a male child and only one goat in the case of a female child. This is a Sunnah prescribed by the Holy Prophet as any other form of worship.
It should be clearly understood that the reason for this distinction is not that the female child has been treated inferior to a male child because the Holy Prophet has clarified in a number of ahadith that the female child is a blessing from Allah and by no means is lower than a male child. The Holy Qur'an and the Sunnah have also condemned the practice of pagan Arabs who expressed their grief when they were informed of the birth of a daughter. The Holy Prophet has in a number of ahadith explained the merits of a daughter and the rewards promised for a person who looks after his daughter or daughters with love and affection.