Last updated: 14 October 2026 | Written for Eid ul Adha 2027
Qurbani Easy Editorial Team • Advised by our panel of Islamic scholars
Quick Answer: The hadith in Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 1519 says the baby’s head is shaved and the weight of the hair is given in silver as charity. Sunan Abi Dawud 2838 and Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 1522 place the shaving and naming on the seventh day with the Aqiqah. This guide gives the reports, and says plainly what we could not source: how the amount is worked out for today and what the schools say.
Parents often ask about the hair after a baby’s first week: when to shave it and what to do with it. The reports are short, and we quote them as shown on sunnah.com.
The reports
Ali bin Abi Talib said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had the ‘Aqiqah for Al-Hasan with one sheep, and said: ‘O Fatimah! Shave his head and give the weight of his hair in silver as charity.’ He said: So I weighed it, and it was the weight of a Dirham or a bit of a Dirham.
Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 1519; graded Hasan (Darussalam)
A boy is in pledge for his Aqiqah, sacrifice is made for him on the seventh day, his head is shaved and he is given a name.
Narrated by Samurah ibn Jundub; Sunan Abi Dawud 2838; graded Sahih (Al-Albani)
Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 1522 has the same report from Samurah and is graded Sahih by Darussalam on sunnah.com.
What we could not source
- How to convert the weight of hair into a silver amount today.
- Whether gold or cash may be given instead of silver.
- What each school says about a girl.
- Who may receive the charity.
These are fiqh questions. Please ask your scholar. For the day itself, see why the 7th day is considered afzal; for who does the Aqeeqah, see who can do the Aqeeqah.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the hadith say about the baby’s hair?
Ali reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) did the Aqiqah for Al-Hasan with one sheep and said to Fatimah: “Shave his head and give the weight of his hair in silver as charity.” Ali weighed it and it was the weight of a dirham or a little less (Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 1519, graded Hasan by Darussalam on sunnah.com).
When is the head shaved?
Samurah reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said a boy is in pledge for his Aqiqah: an animal is slaughtered for him on the seventh day, his head is shaved and he is given a name (Sunan Abi Dawud 2838, Sahih per Al-Albani; Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 1522, Sahih per Darussalam).
How much silver should I give?
The hadith gives the weight of the hair, as silver, as charity. We did not open a fatwa that explains how to calculate it or whether another form of value is accepted, so ask your scholar. We do not give prices here.
Does this apply to girls as well?
The report about Al-Hasan is about a boy. We did not open a source that states the rule for a girl, so we do not state one.
Who receives the silver?
The hadith calls it charity (sadaqah). See types of Sadaqah for the difference between voluntary Sadaqah and Zakat.
Related guides: why the 7th day is considered afzal; Tahneek.
To arrange the Aqeeqah, you can book Aqeeqah online on our website.
Citation Sources
• Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 1519 (Ali bin Abi Talib) — shave the head, give the weight in silver as charity; Hasan (Darussalam); checked on sunnah.com.
• Sunan Abi Dawud 2838 (Samurah ibn Jundub) — the seventh day, shaving and naming; Sahih (Al-Albani); checked on sunnah.com.
• Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 1522 (Samurah) — the same; Sahih (Darussalam); checked on sunnah.com.
No fatwa source was opened for the silver, so no school ruling is stated and no school difference is shown. Gradings are those displayed on sunnah.com, with the grader named.