During the days of Qurbani, a common question that many people ask is: “Since animals are being slaughtered for both Qurbani and Aqiqah during this time, can we combine both acts?” For example, someone buys a cow, which has seven shares. can two or three of those shares be for Aqiqah and the rest for Qurbani? In other words, can we fulfill both acts through the same animal by dividing the shares?
This leads to the bigger question: Can Aqiqah and Qurbani be performed through the same animal? Are these two acts something that can be done jointly?
Let’s understand this properly.
Can Worship Acts Be Combined?
Remember: in some cases, Shari’ah does allow certain acts of worship to be combined — but that’s only when the acts are of the same kind. For example, you enter the mosque and want to pray Tahiyyat al-Masjid (greeting the mosque), but there’s not enough time. So, you perform the Sunnah prayer of that time instead. Then, the congregational prayer begins, and you join in. Now you’ve offered your Fardh. The Tahiyyat al-Masjid was fulfilled along the way because the real purpose was to pray something before sitting in the mosque.
In such cases, combining is allowed.
But when two acts of worship are separate in nature, with different timings, different methods, and different rulings, then they cannot be combined.
Aqiqah and Qurbani Are Separate Worships
Aqiqah is linked to the birth of a child, while Qurbani is specific to the days of Eid. Qurbani has detailed conditions mentioned in the Hadith, while those same conditions don’t explicitly apply to Aqiqah. Their timings are different, their formats are different, and their reasons are different. These are two distinct and independent acts of worship.
You can’t say: “I’m praying four Rak’ahs of Dhuhr Fardh and I’ll make the intention for the four Sunnah Rak’ahs as well, so both will be done together.” That’s not valid. Or if someone mistakenly prays four Rak’ahs in Fajr, they can’t claim: “Two are Fardh, and two are Sunnah.” Worship doesn’t work this way.
This principle — combining intentions (Tashreeq fi al-Niyyah) — does not apply here.
No Evidence to Combine Aqiqah and Qurbani
Aqiqah is a complete, independent act of worship. Qurbani is also a complete, independent act of worship. No evidence in Shari’ah allows combining both in a single animal or offering them jointly. Each has its own time, own intention, and own rulings.
If anyone claims that they can be combined, they need to bring clear proof from the Qur’an or Sunnah. Otherwise, this approach only complicates the matter without a basis.
Final Word
Aqiqah and Qurbani have a separate occasion, a separate intention, and their own set of rulings. It is an independent act of worship. Both acts of worship should be performed separately.
InshaAllah, this is the correct and clear approach.
