What is the Aqiqah, when is it due, and what is its amount?

The 'Aqiqah is a sheep slaughtered for a newborn. It is named thus because the newborn's hair is shaved at the time of its slaughter. It is a confirmed Sunnah for the capable guardian of the newborn: two sheep for a boy and one for a girl. Its time is the seventh day of the newborn's life, on which their head is shaved, and silver equivalent to the weight of their hair is given in charity, based on the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) saying: "A boy is mortgaged by his 'Aqiqah; it is slaughtered for him on the seventh day, he is named, and his head is shaved." If the seventh day is missed, then it can be done on the fourteenth, or the twenty-first, or any day thereafter. If his guardian does not perform the 'Aqiqah for him until he reaches maturity, he should perform the 'Aqiqah for himself. It is not permissible to give its value in cash instead of slaughtering.