Assalamualikum, My sister in law has a 3 year old baby girl. Her aqeeqa has not yet been done. But now her in-laws (husband's parents) are planning for Aqeeqa on their younger son's marriage. Ideally, it would have been done on 7th day of her birth. Her head was shaved few days after her bith. And those hairs are still with them. Now they want to do aqiqa as I said earlier but want to give equivalent silver value on those hairs along with sacrifice of a goat. I want to know if it is right to give silver value on those hairs that are still kept. And is there a need for shaving her head again? Please reply to me earliest Allah Hafiz

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.

According to the view that permits shaving the head of a new-born baby girl and giving the equivalent of its weight in charity (in silver), then it is enough to give in charity the hair which is shaved after her birth. According to the view of the majority of the scholars giving in charity the equivalent of the weight of the hair in silver and performing 'Aqeeqah is a recommended act but it is not an obligation.

For more benefit on the rulings on 'Aqeeqah, please refer to Fatwa 82088, and Fatwa 85380 about shaving the hair of the new-born child.