spare the poor goat or lamb or cows life. The purpose of sacrifice is to understand the spirit of parting with what you hold dear (your wealth), it is not some muqabla against four-legged animals.
Please pause and think … That, after all, is what religion should make us do rather than blindly following ritual.
According to the many organizations that will perform the sacrifice for you if you live abroad, the cost of one goat/sheep is US$ 160 in the US (that is more than one month’s salary for a college educated Pakistani professional). The price in Pakistan is cheaper, but not by much. Only the well wheeled can afford it. The Poor cannot even budget for a kilo of meat a month.
Is there a better way to ‘sacrifice’ the 150-200 dollars or the Rs. 10,000 or more in the name of Allah that is useful to His bandas? A way that captures the spirit of sacrifice that qurbani entails and helps us meet our religious obligation as well as the social welfare and redistribution that is its deeper purpose?
The Qur’an reminds us that Allah looks at intent not the blood. Maybe we too should pay heed to the intent of qurbani? For those who want to sacrifice this writer instead, please read Chapter 22, Verse 37 from the Holy Qur’an (I have looked at translations by Marmaduke, Yusufali, Asad and Usmani) and they all talk about your own devotion, piety, God-consciousness and taqwa that reaches Him.
The meat from the sacrificial animal is intended to be divided into three parts: 1/3rd each for your self, family and friends, and for the needy and the poor. I would suggest we fore go our share, and give the whole amount to the poor including poor relations. Charity and alms should be given throughout the year, and many people do. But with this added emphasis around Eid ul Adha I would suggest we consider giving more to the poor including poor relations.
Allah looks at intent not the blood. What better way to celebrate this Eid?
On my last visit I saw a lot of people drive up to a certain “hotel” (Pinglish for restaurant) and pay the owner X rupees to feed X number of hungry folks lined up outside. That is a noble idea. But would it not be better better to teach them to fish?
A manual sewing machine for a widow or unemployed poor woman? Tuition Fees or books for a poor student? Some money to ease the days for the unemployed people? A small monthly stipend to the poor that may bring a ray of hope in their lives and may perhaps deter them from abandoning their children to the fogs of terrorist factories?
We can think of many ways to make Him happy and spare the lamb. May Allah bless you and your family.
Note: This is based on an earlier post published on temporal’s blog Baithak.
What is wajib is ‘sacrifice’ and that we shoudl do in whatever way we can. Also, the ayahs about the sacrifice of animal are not saying that the only way to do sacrifice is killing animals. That is just one way. It made sense in Arabia 1400 years ago. It does not make sense today. The everlasting message is about sacrifice and charity, not about how you give it. As long as it is for Allah.
@Temporal: after all it is wajib and we can’t change Allah’s order with our fallacious and own made theories. animal slaughter is 100% halal and whosoever has doubt can read the following verses of Quran and also tell me why the Holy Prophet (pbuh) slaughtered the cows and goats while he was the most mercifl and kind-hearted among all Humans??
“And among the sacred Signs of Allah We have appointed for you the sacrificial camels. In them there is much good for you. So mention the name of Allah over them as they stand tied up in lines. And when they fall down dead on their sides, eat thereof and feed him who is needy but contented and him who supplicates. Thus have We subjected them to you, that you may be thankful”.(22:37)
“And to every people We appointed rites of sacrifice, that they might mention the name of Allah over the quadrupeds of the class of cattle that He has provided for them. So your God is One God; therefore submit ye all to Him. And give thou glad tidings to the humble,” (22:35)
Durrani and taimur:
well said and thanks:)
[22:37]
[But bear in mind:] never does their flesh reach God, and neither their blood: it is only your God-consciousness that reaches Him. It is to this end that We have made them subservient to your needs, so that you might glorify God for all the guidance with which He has graced you. And give thou this glad tiding unto the doers of good Muhammad Asad
Islam encourages charity…
Charity through money – Zakah, Sadaqa, Ushr, Fitrana
Charity through free meals – Sadaqa, Kheraat, Qurbani (Eid-ul-Adha)
Charity is encouraged through a month of fasting when we feel the pain of hunger of the poor when we fast.
What is wrong in ‘Qurbani’ then? Islam demands spirituality, softness and sobriety while sacrificing animals otherwise He gets angry and may not accept your qurbani. Even it is ordered in Islam that knife should be sharp and qurbani should be expertly and quickly done so that animal would feel least amount of pain. So if people are doing it wrongly, why to condemn the act itself?
I think people are making very good point about the economic activity created by this ritual which is mostl benefitting the poor, even when the rich show off.
Beyond that, I agree that as long as you give in the name of Allah it matters little whether you give through money or through animals. Those are just ways of giving, teh important thing is that we give!