Fiqh al-Aqiqah wal-Udhiyah — Birth Sacrifice and Eid al-Adha Sacrifice in Islamic Law: The Aqiqah (Animal Slaughtered on the Seventh Day After Birth as Thanksgiving), the Udhiyah (Animal Sacrificed During Eid al-Adha in Memory of Ibrahim's Submission), Their Conditions, Distribution Rules, and the Fiqh Differences Across the Four Schools

Fiqh al-Aqiqah wal-Udhiyah (فِقهُ العَقِيقَةِ وَالأُضحِيَة — Jurisprudence of Birth and Eid Sacrifice; *'aqiqah*: the hair of the newborn; then transferred to the animal sacrificed when that hair is shaved; from *'-q-q*: to cut; *udhiyah*: sacrifice; from *d-h-w*: morning, early time (the early part of the day of sacrifice); the two sacrifices share the structure of slaughter + distribution but differ in occasion, obligation level, and recipient; THE AQIQAH: [1] occasion: the birth of a child; the Sunna is to perform it on the seventh day; if not done on the seventh, on the fourteenth; if not then, on the twenty-first; after that, some scholars say any time; [2] the shaving and naming: the Prophet's practice was to shave the newborn's head, give sadaqah of silver equal in weight to the hair, and give the child a name — all on the seventh day; the aqiqah slaughter happens on the same day; [3] animals: for a boy: two sheep/goats; for a girl: one sheep/goat; the animals should meet the same age/quality conditions as the udhiyah animal; [4] status: the majority view is Sunnah Mu'akkadah [emphasized Sunnah]; the Maliki school considers it Sunnah; the Hanafi school considers it permissible but not Sunnah [since the Hanafi evidentiary standard is stricter for Sunnah classification]; [5] distribution: can be distributed raw, cooked, or some raw and some cooked; the meat is distributed among family, neighbors, and the poor; THE UDHIYAH: [1] occasion: Eid al-Adha [10-13 Dhu al-Hijjah]; the udhiyah commemorates Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice Isma'il and God's provision of the ram as substitute; [2] obligation level: the four schools differ: Hanafi: wajib [obligatory] for those of means who are not on hajj; Maliki: Sunnah Mu'akkadah; Shafi'i: Sunnah Mu'akkadah; Hanbali: Sunnah Mu'akkadah; [3] animals: sheep [min 1 year], goat [min 1 year], cow or buffalo [min 2 years — one cow = 7 shares], camel [min 5 years — one camel = 7 shares]; [4] the defect conditions: must be free from certain defects: blindness in one eye, obvious lameness, illness, extreme thinness [the four defects from the hadith]; [5] time: after the Eid prayer until sunset of the 13th of Dhu al-Hijjah; the Hanafi school allows it on the 13th; [6] distribution: Shafi'i: at least one-third must be given as sadaqah; Hanbali: one-third each — eat, gift, and sadaqah; Maliki: distribution is encouraged but not strictly apportioned; Hanafi: distribution is encouraged; the seller cannot be given a portion as payment; the meaning: both aqiqah and udhiyah involve the offering of an animal in gratitude and submission; both connect individual/family occasions to the tradition of Ibrahim; both distribute food to community members including the poor) is the Islamic law of life-cycle and annual sacrifice.