8 Differences Between Qurban and Aqiqah in Islam, Don't Get Them Mixed Up
Qurban and aqiqah are two acts of worship in Islam that both involve slaughtering animals, but they differ in purpose, ruling, timing, and procedures. Qurban is only performed after the Eid al-Adha prayer on the 10th-13th of Dhul Hijjah, while aqiqah is ideally on the seventh day after birth and can be done flexibly up until puberty.
Qurban uses camels, cows, buffalo, goats, or sheep; one goat is for one person, while a cow or camel can be shared by seven people. For aqiqah, it's recommended to use goats or sheep-two for a boy and one for a girl. The meat from qurban is distributed raw, whereas aqiqah meat is encouraged to be cooked.
The distribution of qurban meat prioritizes the poor and needy, while aqiqah is more flexible. The person slaughtering for qurban cannot be paid with the qurban meat, unlike aqiqah where that's allowed. Qurban recommends certain male or female animals, but aqiqah permits either male or female as long as they meet the requirements.
If someone hasn't had their aqiqah done but is able to perform qurban, scholars advise prioritizing qurban because its time is limited each year, whereas aqiqah can be done anytime before puberty.
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