Votive Aqiqah Thanksgiving Sacrifice

A vow is making a promise to God to perform a permissible act, even if one is not obligated to do so, solely for the sake of God. Another definition of a vow is making a promise to God to make an action an obligation. Vows made for the sake of God are valid in the sight of God and must be fulfilled.

The first hairs on a newborn baby's head are called aqiqah. The sacrifice offered to Allah seven days after the child's birth, after partially or completely shaving the hair on the child's head and naming the child, is also called the aqiqah sacrifice. This sacrifice is also called the "nesike" sacrifice. The aqiqah sacrifice is a practice established by the Sunnah. Aisha (ra) narrates: "The Messenger of Allah (sav) commanded us to sacrifice two sheep for male children and one sheep for female children as 'aqiqah'." (Ibn Majah, Sunan, Hadith No: 3163 and 1515). Again, Aisha (ra) narrates: "The Prophet (sav) sacrificed aqiqah for his grandsons Hasan and Husayn on the seventh day after their births and named them." (Tecrid-i Sarih Translation, XI, 401) According to the Hanafi school of thought, the aqiqah sacrifice is recommended (mendub). According to the other three great imams, it is a sunnah (recommended practice). The aqiqah sacrifice can be performed from the day the child is born until puberty. However, it is more preferable to perform it on the seventh day. On the seventh day, the child is named, and the hair on their head is cut, and gold or silver equivalent to the weight of the hair is given as charity. The conditions required for the animal to be sacrificed as an aqiqah sacrifice are the same as those required for other sacrifices. The person who performs the aqiqah sacrifice can eat the meat, and the household can also benefit from it. A portion of it is given as charity to those in need.

We periodically visit countries where we have water wells and orphans. During these visits, the donated sacrificial animals are distributed to orphans, fatherless children, and those in need.

The vowed offering may sometimes be a sacrifice. Two important points are crucial regarding a vowed sacrifice: 1) The vowed sacrifice must be a four-legged animal such as sheep, cattle, or camels, similar to the sacrifices offered during Eid al-Adha (Udhiyya) and Hajj (Hajj). 2) Neither the person who made the vow, nor their ancestors (parents, grandparents, and above), nor their descendants (sons, daughters, grandchildren, and below) may eat the meat of the vowed sacrifice. The meat of the vowed sacrifice must be entirely distributed to the poor. If the person who offered the vowed sacrifice, or those forbidden from eating from it, consume the meat, they must give the equivalent value of the amount they ate to the poor.

A sacrifice offered to express gratitude to God on any occasion is called a thank-offering. A person may offer a thank-offering because they have achieved a desired goal or received a blessing. Such a sacrifice is not a vow sacrifice. Therefore, offering a thank-offering is not obligatory.

Notification that the donation has been processed is sent via SMS to all donors who provided their contact information.

On our website, under the "Donate" section, select the "Sacrifice" option. Within this section, choose the appropriate sacrifice from the options: Votive, Aqiqah, or Thanksgiving sacrifices, and specify the amount you wish to donate. Then, press the "Continue" button, and on the next page, fill in your information completely to complete your payment.