Facts on Aqiqah:

In Islam, the handling of the umbilical cord and placenta after childbirth is a topic that can vary slightly depending on cultural practices and local customs, but generally, these practices are guided by Islamic teachings on cleanliness, respect for the human body, and environmental considerations. While the Qur’an and Hadith do not provide explicit instructions regarding the disposal of the umbilical cord and placenta, Islamic scholars have derived guidelines based on general principles of respect and cleanliness.

Islamic Perspective on Umbilical Cord and Placenta Burial:

1. Respect for the Human Body: In Islam, all parts of the human body, even after detachment, should be treated with respect. The umbilical cord and placenta, although not part of the body anymore, are seen as having a connection to the child and, by extension, to the sanctity of human life. For this reason, it is preferred to handle these biological materials in a dignified manner.

2. Burial as a Preferred Practice: The most common practice in Muslim communities is to bury the placenta and the umbilical cord. This follows the principle of returning to the earth what comes from it, which is in line with Islamic beliefs on burial in general. Burial is a way to show respect for the parts of the body and protect the environment, as Islam encourages minimizing harm to the natural world.

3. Hygiene and Cleanliness: Islam emphasizes cleanliness and hygiene, and it is important that the placenta and umbilical cord be handled in a clean and proper way to avoid contamination or pollution. Burying them in a clean place away from where they may cause harm is encouraged.

4. Avoidance of Disrespectful Disposal: Disposing of the placenta or umbilical cord in ways that may be seen as disrespectful, such as throwing them in the trash, is discouraged. Islamic scholars agree that disposing of them in such a way would be disrespe

Tahnik and Tahliq

An Uztaz will come to the venue or home and provide the following services.

• Shaving hair of the newborn baby
• Weighing of the newborn’s hair and advise on the amount to be donated accordingly
• Tahnik with Ajwa Dates or Honey & Zam Zam
• Reading of some Doa

Umbilical Cord and Placenta – Collection and Burial

• 1 x Collection of Umbilical Cord & Placenta from hospital or home
• Buried outside Masjid Omar Salmah premises
• You will be contacted within the same day or 1 working day after delivery of baby on the arrangement of collection date and time

Just before your baby’s delivery, you’ll be asked whether you want to allow the hospital to keep the placenta and umbilical cord or if you’d prefer to take responsibility for them. As Muslims, it is common for us to take the placenta and umbilical cord to bury them in a respectful manner, in a place deep enough to prevent disturbance by animals. Ultimately though, the choice is entirely yours.

If you decide to keep the placenta and umbilical cord, you can either take care of it on your own by finding a suitable location for burial, or you can opt for our service to assist you.

Important Preparation for Placenta Collection:

• Keep the placenta in the refrigerator while waiting for it to be collected.
• If it’s more than a day old, store it in the freezer and transfer it back to the refrigerator just before collection.

The small part of the umbilical cord attached to your baby’s belly button will dry up and fall off about a week after birth.

It is Sunnah (a recommended practice) to bury this piece in the ground, as it is part of the human body. It should be buried in a spot that is out of reach from animals or people. You don’t need to wrap it—simply dig a small hole in the soil using a metal spoon, place it inside, and cover the hole with soil.

This practice honors the body and fulfills the Islamic principle of respect for human parts.

Aqiqah.sg offers comprehensive Aqiqah services including the sacrifice of the animal, tahliq (shaving of the baby’s head), tahnik (rubbing of a date on the baby’s palate), and burial of the placenta and umbilical cord. You can see a list of our services here.