This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Farooq Rafi Sahib's book Qurbani, Aqiqa, and Ashra Zil-Hijjah.
For Aqiqa, sheep and goats suffice; besides these, there is no authentic evidence from the Prophet ﷺ for using camels, cows, etc., for Aqiqa. The evidences are as follows:
① It is narrated from Sayyida Ummu Karz رضي الله عنها that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
عن الغلام شاتان، وعن الجارية واحدة، لا يضركم ذكرانا كن أو إناثا
"(For Aqiqa) two goats for a boy and one goat for a girl, and whether the goats are male or female does not harm you."
Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi: 1516, Sunan Ibn Majah: 3162.
② Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas رضي الله عنهما stated:
عق رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن الحسن والحسين رضي الله عنهما بكبشين بكبشين
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ slaughtered two rams on behalf of Sayyiduna Hasan and Husayn رضي الله عنهما."
Reference: Authentic: Sunan an-Nasa'i: 4224.
Benefits:
The ahadith of the chapter are evidence that the aqeeqah of two animals of the sheep and goat species is Sunnah and prescribed; cows and camels are not sufficient for aqeeqah. Also, the statement of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) supports this meaning. Abdullah bin Ubaidullah bin Abi Mulaikah (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates that when a son was born to Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman bin Abi Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) was told: O Mother of the Believers!
عق عنه جزورا، فقالت: معاذ الله! ولٰكن ما قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: شاتان مكافئتان
“Perform an aqeeqah of one camel on his behalf.” She said: Ma’adh Allah! Rather, (we will slaughter) what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) prescribed (on behalf of a boy), two similar goats.”
Reference: Hasan: Sunan Bayhaqi: 301/9. Narrator is Abd al-Jabbar bin Ward Saduq.
Performing aqeeqah with cow and camel:
It is not proven to slaughter a cow or camel for Aqiqah, and the narration that permits slaughtering a cow or camel for Aqiqah is fabricated and fabricated narration.
❀ It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
من ولد له غلام فليعق من الإبل، أو البقر، أو الغنم
"Whoever has a boy born should slaughter a camel, cow, or sheep/goat for Aqiqah."
Reference: Fabricated: Al-Tabarani al-Saghir: 229.
This narration is continuously weak due to:
① Imam Tabarani’s teacher Ibrahim Ahmad bin Muradi al-Wasiti is weak.
② Abdul Malik bin Ma’roof Khayyat is unknown.
③ Mas’adah bin Juma’ Bahili is a liar.
④ Harith bin Sa’ib al-Tamimi and Hasan al-Basri are involved in deception.
Conditions of the Aqiqah animal:
The conditions required for the animal of Aqeeqah are not the same as those for the animal of sacrifice, but as a precaution, it is best to observe the conditions of sacrifice in Aqeeqah as well. This is because the words شَاةٌ (goat) and كَبْشٌ (ram) have been mentioned for the animal of Aqeeqah, and the term "shaah" applies to a goat that is capable of giving birth, while "kabsh" applies to a fully mature ram. Therefore, fully mature young animals should be slaughtered for both the goat and the ram, and these animals should also be free from defects and faults, because it is preferable that what is sacrificed in the way of Allah is free from defects and faults.
