If you've been invited to an Aqiqah and you're not sure what it is or whether a card is appropriate, this is the short version.
What is an Aqiqah?
The Aqiqah is a celebration held after the birth of a child. Traditionally it involves the sacrifice of an animal, with the meat shared among family, friends and those in need. The child's hair is often shaved, and the equivalent weight in silver may be given in charity.
At its heart it is a thanksgiving — a way of marking gratitude for a safe arrival and formally welcoming a child into the community.
When does it happen?
It is traditionally performed on the seventh day after birth. If that isn't possible, the fourteenth or twenty-first day are commonly observed instead, and many families hold it later still depending on circumstances. There is flexibility in practice, and customs vary between cultures and families.
Is it the same as a baby shower?
No. A baby shower happens before the birth and centres on gifts for the parents. An Aqiqah happens after, and is religious in character — closer in spirit to a naming ceremony or christening, though not identical to either.
You may well be invited to both.
When to give the card
If you're attending the Aqiqah, bring the card with you and give it on the day, usually alongside a gift. If you can't attend, sending it in the week following the birth is perfectly appropriate — arriving a little early is better than arriving a month late.
If you missed the window entirely, send it anyway. New parents are not counting days, and a card in week six is still a card that gets kept.
What to write
Keep it warm and simple:
- Aqiqah Mubarak. May Allah bless her with health, and you with patience and joy.
- Congratulations on your beautiful boy. May he be a source of comfort and coolness to your eyes.
- Alhamdulillah on this beautiful news. So happy for your family.
The traditional du'a on hearing of a birth is also a lovely inclusion, and parents often appreciate a name being used rather than "your little one".
Choosing a card
Aqiqah cards are usually kept — often in the same box as the hospital wristband and the first photograph. Something on heavyweight stock with a proper envelope tends to survive that better than a supermarket card.
Our Aqiqah collection includes designs for both baby boys and girls, and our wider new baby range covers Alhamdulillah, It's a Boy, It's a Girl and Salam Little One.
Designed, made and packed in Sydney, Australia.