Slaughtering a cow for `Aqeeqah of two boys Fatwa No: 116795
- Fatwa Date:8-1-2009
Assalamu Alaikum, I am from Sri Lanka, I have Two boys (twins) recently born. they are now 5 months old. is it acceptable in islamic shareea to sacrifice one cow for aqeeqa for them. If I sacrifice for them goats I have to sacrifice 4 goats, goats are expensive in Sri Lanka. That is why I want to know verywell one cow is acceptable or not. Jazakallahu Kairan Madani
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
It is known that it is a Sunnah to sacrifice two sheep or two goats for the ‘Aqeeqah of a baby-boy, and one sheep or one goat for a baby-girl. However, the jurists of the Shaafi’i School are of the view that it is permissible to slaughter a cow for the ‘Aqeeqah of seven children (boys or girls) because it is acceptable and sufficient to sacrifice a cow on behalf of seven people for the ‘Eed Al-Adhha sacrifice.
Therefore, we hope that it is sufficient and acceptable if you slaughter a cow for the ‘Aqeeqah of your two baby-boys, and we hope that you will get a reward from Allaah because Allaah does not burden a soul more than it can bear. However, if you are well-off, it is better for you to slaughter two sheep (or goats) for the ‘Aqeeqah or each boy even if the cost of the sheep is expensive since you are well-to-do, and Allaah will compensate you because you spent your money in the obedience of Allaah.
Allaah Knows best.