Q: I have a 3 year old son and I have not performed the Aqeeqah as yet. Can I do the qurbani for him?
A. The Sunnah sacrifice for a newborn baby is the Aqeeqah. Aqeeqah is the sacrifice of one sheep or one portion of a cow for a girl and two sheep or two portions of a cow for a boy, if one can afford it. If one can only afford one sheep or one portion for a boy, it will suffice.
Qurbani for a minor is allowed on condition that it is not purchased from the wealth of the minor. The child will receive the reward (Thawaab) of that Qurbani and so will the parents who have been instrumental in this noble act. Anyone who assists or facilitates a good act will receive the full reward of that good act, as mentioned in several ahadith.
Bear I mind that if the parents are by the means of offering Qurbani, they should first make their own Qurbanis, before making Qurbani for minor children. Meat of a Qurbani made for minors, may be eaten and distributed just as the parents would do with their own Qurbani.
It will be preferable to do the Aqeeqah instead of the Qurbani.
Allah Ta’aala knows best.
Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked by: Mufti Siraj Desai