Short answer
Say "Bismillah, Allahu Akbar" at the moment of slaughter: in the Hanafi school saying Allah's name is fard and the meat is haram if it is left on purpose. The intention for the child's aqiqah is in the heart. Longer duas found in some books are fine to read but are not from a sahih hadith and are not required.
The tasmiyah at slaughter is fard for the one cutting; leaving it deliberately makes the meat haram, while forgetting it is excused. The niyyah of aqiqah for a named child is enough in the heart. Any extra dua is optional.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- The tasmiyah is sunnah, not a condition, so meat slaughtered by a Muslim without it is still halal, though leaving it is disliked.
Explanation
Allah says sacrifices are made so that people mention His name over the animals He provided, and He forbids eating what was slaughtered without His name. The Prophet ﷺ said: whatever spills blood and has Allah's name mentioned over it, eat it. That is the one thing required of the person who slaughters.
At the slaughter:
- Face the animal towards the qiblah if you can, and use a sharp knife.
- Have the intention: "this is the aqiqah for my son, or daughter, [name]".
- Say Bismillah, Allahu Akbar (In the name of Allah, Allah is the Greatest) as you cut.
Optional duas: many families add Allahumma minka wa laka (O Allah, from You and for You), followed by "this is the aqiqah of [name]". Some South Asian books give a longer dua beginning Allahumma hadhihi aqiqatu ibni.... These are fine to read as dua, but the longer forms are not from an authentic hadith, so do not treat them as a condition. If a butcher or charity slaughters for you, they say the tasmiyah, and your intention when appointing them is enough.
For the whole day see what happens at an aqiqah, and for general duas for the child see dua for a new baby.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Hajj 22:34
وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍۢ جَعَلْنَا مَنسَكًۭا لِّيَذْكُرُوا۟ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّنۢ بَهِيمَةِ ٱلْأَنْعَٰمِ ۗ فَإِلَٰهُكُمْ إِلَٰهٌۭ وَٰحِدٌۭ فَلَهُۥٓ أَسْلِمُوا۟ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُخْبِتِينَ ﴿٣٤﴾
And for all religion We have appointed a rite [of sacrifice] that they may mention the name of Allah over what He has provided for them of [sacrificial] animals. For your god is one God, so to Him submit. And, [O Muhammad], give good tidings to the humble [before their Lord]
Allah's name is mentioned over every sacrifice.
Quran, Surah Al-An'aam 6:121
وَلَا تَأْكُلُوا۟ مِمَّا لَمْ يُذْكَرِ ٱسْمُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَفِسْقٌۭ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلشَّيَٰطِينَ لَيُوحُونَ إِلَىٰٓ أَوْلِيَآئِهِمْ لِيُجَٰدِلُوكُمْ ۖ وَإِنْ أَطَعْتُمُوهُمْ إِنَّكُمْ لَمُشْرِكُونَ ﴿١٢١﴾
And do not eat of that upon which the name of Allah has not been mentioned, for indeed, it is grave disobedience. And indeed do the devils inspire their allies [among men] to dispute with you. And if you were to obey them, indeed, you would be associators [of others with Him].
The Hanafi basis for making the tasmiyah required.
Sahih al-Bukhari 2488
Sahih... ما أنهر الدم وذكر اسم الله عليه فكل ...
"Whatever makes the blood flow and has Allah's name mentioned over it, eat it."
The tasmiyah is part of a valid slaughter.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Dhaba'ih. The tasmiyah is a condition; deliberate omission makes the meat unlawful, forgetting is excused.
- al-Majmu' (Nawawi), Kitab al-Sayd wa al-Dhaba'ih. The Shafi'i view that the tasmiyah is sunnah.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.