Muslims celebrate the birth of a baby in a ceremony called Aqiqah. Aqiqah is performed seven days
after a baby is born. If Aqiqah can’t be done on the seventh day after the baby is born, it should be
done on the 14th day, or the 21st day, or the 28th day and so on.

• The most important reason for having an Aqiqah ceremony is so that Muslims
  can say thank you to Allah (God) for the birth of a baby. Parents invite
  friends and family to celebrate and join them in thanking Allah. They share a
  special meal together. Friends and family might bring gifts for the baby.
• An important part of Aqiqah is when the baby’s head is shaved. Shaving a baby’s head is
  mentioned in the Muslim special book, the Qu’ran.
  It shows that the baby belongs to Allah. After the baby’s head has been shaved,
  the name of the baby is announced. Muslim parents choose their baby’s names very
  carefully. Boys will often be named after one of Allah’s special messengers. Girls
  will often be named after women in the Qu’ran. The baby’s hair is weighed. The
  parents will then give the same weight in silver to charity. Giving to charity is an important part
  of being a Muslim.
• In some places, a baby’s family will make an offering of meat. They will share this
  meat with their friends and give some of it to poor people who don’t have much to
  eat. In Britain, Muslims might order the meat from a special Islamic butcher. This
  meat will also be given to people who don’t have much money.