Praise be to Allaah.

‘Aqeeqah refers to the sacrifice that is offered on behalf of the newborn on the seventh day after birth. ‘Aqeeqah was known among the Arabs during the Jaahiliyyah. Al-Maawardi said: ‘Aqeeqah refers to a sheep that is slaughtered on the occasion of the birth; it was a custom practised by the Arabs before Islam. 

Al-Haawi al-Kabeer, 15/126 

There are saheeh ahaadeeth from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) which prove that ‘aqeeqah is prescribed in Islam, such as the following: 

1 – It was narrated that Buraydah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: During the Jaahiliyyah, if a boy was born to one of us, we would slaughter a sheep and smear his head with its blood. When Allaah brought Islam, we would slaughter a sheep and shave (the child’s) head and smear it with saffron.

Narrated by Abu Dawood, 2843; classed as saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood. 

Saffron is a type of perfume. 

2 – It was narrated from Salmaan ibn ‘Aamir (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “For a boy there should be ‘aqeeqah so shed blood for him and remove the dirt from him.” 

Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5154 

It is prescribed to slaughter two sheep for a newborn boy and one sheep for a girl, as is indicated by the saheeh evidence, such as the following: 

1 – It was narrated from Umm Karaz that she asked the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) about ‘aqeeqah, and he said: “For a boy, two sheep, and for a female one sheep, and it does not matter if it is male or female.” 

Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 1516, who said this is a saheeh hasan hadeeth; and by al-Nasaa’i, 4217; classed as saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel, 4/391 

2 – It was narrated from ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) commanded them (to slaughter) two sheep of similar type for a boy and one sheep for a girl. 

Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 1513, who said it is hasan saheeh; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi. 

These ahaadeeth clearly show that there is a difference between male and female with regard to ‘aqeeqah. 

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) explained this difference between male and female as follows: 

This is a principle of sharee’ah, for Allaah differentiates between male and female, and gives the female half the share of the male in terms of inheritance, diyah, testimony, freeing slaves and ‘aqeeqah, as was narrated by al-Tirmidhi in a hadeeth which he classed as saheeh from Umaamah from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), who said: “Any Muslim who frees a Muslim, he will be his ransom from the Fire, and each of (the slave’s) limbs will suffice for his limbs. Any Muslim man who sets free two Muslim women, they will be his ransom from the Fire, and each of their limbs will suffice for his limbs.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 1547. This differentiation with regard to ‘aqeeqah would apply even if there was no clear sunnah concerning the matter, so how about when the Sunnah is clearly established and shows that there is this differentiation? End quote. 

Tuhfat al-Mawdood, p. 53, 54 

Ibn al-Qayyim also said: 

Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, has favoured the male over the female, as He says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And the male is not like the female”

[Aal ‘Imraan 3:36] 

This differentiation is reflected in Islamic rulings, whereby the male is regarded as equivalent to two females in terms of testimony, inheritance and blood money (diyah), and ‘aqeeqah also comes under these rulings. End quote. 

Zaad al-Ma’aad, 2/331 

Note: 

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: 

Among the benefits of ‘aqeeqah is that it is a sacrifice that is offered on behalf of the newborn when he first emerges into this world. 

Another benefit is that it “releases” the newborn, for he is held in pledge for his ‘aqeeqah so that he may intercede for his parents. 

Another benefit is that it is a ransom that is paid for the newborn just as Allaah, may He be exalted, ransomed Ismaa’eel with the ram. End quote. 

Tuhfat al-Mawdood, p. 69 

The best time for offering the ‘aqeeqah is seven days after birth, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Every child is held in pledge for his ‘aqeeqah, which should be slaughtered on his behalf on the seventh day, and he should be shaved and given his name.” Narrated by Abu Dawood, 2838; classed as saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood. 

If it is delayed until after the seventh day, there is no sin, and it should be offered when the Muslim is able to do that. 

And Allaah knows best.