Since there is no authentic Hadith which speaks of shaving the head of a newborn female, the principle remains, which is that it is forbidden to shave the head.

1. 'Aqiqah refers to the sacrifice that is offered on behalf of the newborn on the seventh day after birth. 2. There are sahih ahadith from the Prophet which prove that ‘aqiqah is prescribed in Islam. 3. It is prescribed to slaughter two sheep for a newborn boy and one sheep for a girl, as is indicated by the saheeh evidence. 4. The best time for offering the ‘aqiqah is seven days after birth.

In case of miscarriage in Islam, the scholars differed as to whether offering `aqiqah is prescribed or not. Some scholars favoured the view that it is prescribed and they are also of the view that the child should be given a name.

‘Aqiqah is important because if it is not done for the child and he dies in childhood, he will be prevented from interceding for his parents; or that the ‘aqiqah is a means of ridding the child of Satan.