Question:
What animals are allowed for aqeeqah?
Answer:
Praises are to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon Allah’s honorable messenger.
The view of the majority of ulema is that aqeeqah is an emphasized sunnah. The animals that are allowed for aqeeqah are the same for udhiyah (animal slaughtered on eid udha 10th of Dhul Hijja): camels, cows (and bulls), goat, and sheep. There are no animals allowed besides these. The animal should be slaughtered wholely for the aqeeqah. Some scholars say that the animal cannot be portioned, like a seventh of a cow or camel for udhiyah.
What is recommended is two sound and healthy rams for a boy, and one sound and healthy ram for a girl. Some narrations mention just one ram for a boy. It should be slaughtered on the 7th day after birth. If not then the 14th day is recommended, then 21st, then anytime after. It is recommended that the animal be cooked, some of the ulema mention roasting it whole. It can be given in charity, to friends and family, or eaten by oneself. Don’t forget to give some of the meat to your shaikh.
And Allah knows.
Shaikh Sajid