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.
Thank you Brother Kashif for quoting the translation from Taqi Usmani. He is a leading authority and the verse is very clear.
Jazakallah for sharing it.
Let me be very clear that I do not agree with the suggestion in this post. I think that sacrifice of animals at Eid is a good ritual and has lots of virtue. Others can do as they see fit and Allah give give them jaza if their neeyat is true. But I will prefer animal sacrifice as is tradition.
However, let me say that I find teh comment from Mr. Ibrahim to be deeply offensive. How dare you question that Islam is a religion controlled by “morals and values.” Of course it is. That is all what Islam is. And, yes, Allah is al-Hakeem, which is why what he says in the Quran is superior to everything. How dare you question the ayah in the Quran and call those following “only” the Quran to be munafiqs. Yes, I follow the Quran and it is “only” right path.
Mr. Ibrahim’s comment is very offensive to Muslims and Islam and should be immediately removed.
I am very impressed by the civil discussion at this forum on even something so controversial. I do not agree with the author but an glad that he/she wrote this with decency and also the commenters for putting their views strongly but politely. This site should be congratulated for that. This also shows that the image of Muslims fighting over everything and getting personal in attacks and violent is wrong one and we can discuss things reasonably as we should.
Of course, “only” Qur’an is mentioned here for guidance because we see that a lot of shariah comes from the orders of the Prophet (saw) [meaning ahadith] so it’s an easy way for munafiqs to still call themselves Muslims while trying to change the religion.
The ahadith are clear that the greatest part of the sunnah is to actually spill blood of an animal. So, unlike some who do it’s better to actually slaughter than just donate money for slaughtering let alone donating money for some other purpose. Allah is al-Hakeem and so He knows best. And, He has legislated different types of charities (obligatory zakat, sadaqa, etc, etc.) and this ritual is also a charity.
Never in 1400+ years has the quoted ayah been understood the way it’s being used here. You don’t know alif, baa of Arabic and want to deduce rulings based on translations? Why didn’t you consult the tafaseer, which mention the understanding of the sahabah, who obtained it through the Prophet (saw)? Of course, you won’t consult the tafaseer because they will not help you hide your hypocrisy.
Temporal, ATP and friends of course won’t tell you the fact that the Prophet (saw) who was THE example of what Allah orders always always slaughtered an animal, like a camel, when a camel to Arabs was a prized possession and a very useful thing for a poor person…it could be his means of transportation, food (milk), farming tool, etc. Still, the Prophet (saw) didn’t just give away the money or a live camel; rather, he slaughtered it, ate some of the meat and gave the rest away.
Come out the la la land where Islam is controlled by the morals and values of one’s our perceptions and of course of the West.
Sacrificing Lamb (food chain) is better than sacrificing Humans.
It will make HER (Allah) happy.
Eid mubarak