Baby Haircuts in Islam: Here's Why.

The Rite of 'Aqiqa: What It Consists of and What Is Its Meaning in the Islamic Religion

In the Islamic religion, a practice called 'Aqiqa has been passed down from generation to generation, which is performed every time a child is born, precisely on the seventh day of life, and is equivalent to Christian baptism. It consists of sacrificing one or more animals based on the sex of the child, followed by cutting the first hair on the newborn's head.
Aqiqa is considered a real "celebration of the newborn", for which it is a right that must be implemented by the parents. Although today for the majority of Muslims it is considered only a recommendation, many see it instead as an obligation, or better to say, a duty towards Allah but also towards the child himself, who unfortunately at that moment does not have the possibility to express his opinion. In the Islamic religion, however, this gesture is a sign of love towards their child by the family, which guarantees protection from evil and demons. Indeed, it is considered an act of piety towards the child, as if it were a salvation.

The 'Aqiqa mentioned in the Sunnah: Obligation or Choice?

Traditionalists maintain that this sacrifice dates back to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, who states regarding the unborn child: "Sacrifice for him an animal and rid him of his first hairs."
The Sunnah, for Muslims, is a kind of code of conduct, a tradition that has as its point of reference the behavior of Muhammad in different circumstances and situations of life. Muhammad applies the ''rules'' and dogmas of the Koran every day of his life, so much so that it becomes the pillar of the Muslim faith and is considered by believers as a point of reference and an example to follow in their daily life and religious life. It is for this reason that every practice mentioned in the Sunnah, for the most traditional Muslims, must be carried out to the letter, including the 'Aqiqa.

How the rite of 'Aqiqa is performed

Usually for the 'Aqiqa animals such as sheep or goats are sacrificed and in particular one animal for females and two for males. In fact, etymologically speaking the Arabic word aqiqa means ''completed sacrifice''. It is also said that in pre-Islamic times the child's head had to be covered with the animal's blood.

The 'Aqiqa is only the fourth rite performed during the first days of the child's life. In fact, it must be preceded by the Adhan, a prayer that is whispered in the child's ear by the father and the subsequent declaration of faith that reads ''There is no God but Allah. Muhammad is the prophet of Allah''; the prayer and declaration of faith are made immediately after the birth of the child to ensure his entrance into paradise. To be ready for the 'Aqiqa, it is necessary to proceed with the Tahenik, a rite during which honey is given to the child, as a symbol of the sweetness of the Koran and of life next to Allah. Finally, a string with a pendant containing a prayer is tied to the newborn's wrist. At this point, it is possible to continue with the 'Aqiqa rite, the conclusion of the child's ''preparation'' before undertaking the journey according to the teachings of Allah. The difference with Christian baptism lies in the fact that for Muslims the newborn does not have to be purified from sins, because for Allah a new life is free from sin and until the age of puberty a child cannot be judged for any unjust or immoral acts.

The ceremony is mainly done to thank Allah for giving the family a child and to give the child a name. Usually the child is named after one of the prophets or great men and women of Islam. Proper names of Allah or adjectives such as "merciful", "omnipresent", names that recall other religions but also names of demons and angels are prohibited. Furthermore, according to the Koran, it is the father or the male guardian of the child who has the right to choose his name; women in fact do not have this right.

It begins, as explained previously, with the shaving of the child's head; the cut hair is a symbol of the child's purification from impurities and the consequent beginning of life accompanied by the teachings and presence of Allah. The hair is then donated to charity, since, based on its weight, it has a monetary value in gold or silver. After shaving, the animal is then sacrificed as a sign of celebration of the event, a practice that is not practiced by all believers today. The meat of the sacrificed animal obviously should not be thrown away, but is shared with needy people or neighbors. These gestures refer to a very specific message of the Islamic religion and the Koran, namely the duty of almsgiving, called zakat, one of the five founding pillars of this faith.

Everything is therefore done according to a profound message that resides in this religion, that of love, kindness and sharing in the name of Allah.
Years ago, moreover, during the rite of 'Aqiqa, it was customary to circumcise newborn males; Always during the seventh day of the child's life, this practice was carried out in order to guarantee maximum purification of the child's soul and body, so as to bring him even closer to Allah. This too was considered a sacrifice, equal to that of the animal. Today this practice is not performed, except by some traditionalists.