The Arabs took many customs and traditions from the Islamic religion, including "El Aqeeqah", which is a feast for family members on the seventh day of the birth of the newborn.
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El Aqeeqah before the advent of Islam.
The Arabs used to celebrate "El Aqeeqah" before Islam and it was called "El Sebou", the origin of this custom is due to the pharaoh, where many drawings were found that prove that the pharaohs celebrated "the Sebou".
The rituals of their celebrations were different from the rituals of the Arabs today, as they believed that the sense of hearing is given to the newborn on the seventh day of his life, so they hold a celebration and make a lot of noise around him to work his sense of hearing efficiently, hence this custom spread among many Arab tribes before Islam
El Aqeeqah after Islam.
The Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, asked several times about "El Aqeeqah", and he said: "Two sheep should be slaughtered if the newborn is male, and one sheep if the newborn is female".
"El Aqeeqah" has several benefits, including giving charity to the poor from meat and strengthening family ties through the celebration of the newborn, "El Aqeeqah" is also considered charity for the newborn itself.
El Aqeeqah among the Arabs today.
Due to the expansion of the Arab geographical area, the method of celebrating "El Aqeeqah" differs from one region to another, but in general, the Arabs maintained the same principles, which are the slaughter of a sheep and the preparation of a feast that brings together family and relatives.
In North Africa, and specifically in the Algerian East, after the slaughter of the sheep and the preparation of the feast, they shave the hair of the newborn, weigh it, and then give the equivalent of its weight in gold to the poor.