Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear brother in Islam

Assalamalikum w.w

We are well here by the grace of Almighty Allah & hope it same for you , my simple question is :

One of my friend has done Aqiqa for his Grand son , he bought one Cow and made 7 shares on it but I told him as per my knowledge No you will do Aqiqa only 2 Goat (Bakra) but he said some one told me no problem is it also OK take share in one Cow. Kindly tell us what is right in the Islamic way (Quran & Sunnah)

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Answer:

Make aqiqa with cow

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

The Prophet (saws) was asked about 'Aqiqa’ sacrifice, and he (saws) declared that (at least) two sheep be sacrificed for a male offspring, and (at least) one sheep for a female .

Related by Tirmidhi.

The ‘aqiqah’ is not obligatory but rather a Sunnah and thus voluntary, and the Messenger of Allah (saws) guided the believers to sacrifice at least two sheep if the off-spring is male, and at least one sheep if the off-spring is female.

Because the ‘aqiqa’ is a voluntary Sunnah sacrifice, the absolute majority of the scholars and jurists in Islam are of the opinion that although the Sunnah is to sacrifice rams or sheeps, if one wishes to give a bigger animal as sacrifice like a cow or a camel, there is absolutely no harm and their sacrifice would be acceptable to their Lord Most Gracious. 

If the parent or guardian of the new-born chose to sacrifice one cow instead of two rams or sheep as ‘aqiqa’ for their male new-born, there is absolutely no harm.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan