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.
Just after writing my comment I saw this older ATP post in RELATED POSTS section. Makes my point exactly
http://pakistaniat.com/2007/12/23/ow-slaughter-price-inflation-pakistan-eid-qurbani-bakra/
The real issue is also waste. Most of the money spent is for “show” and neither for poor nor for Allah.
Even if people took that money and just bought meat with all of it at regular rates and gave all of that meat to the poor it will be better because the poor will get food.
Bt like most other things this is now just dekhawa.
I totally agree that a more efficient, hygienic and modern alternate to the current method of Qurbani should be found where the meaning of Qurbani is expressed which truly benefits the poor all the year round rather than 3 days. I performed Hajj in 1990 and Qurbani voucher system was in operation. Process worked like this; You obtain a voucher after paying equivalent cost of a goat and identify the Hajji or one in whose name Hajj is being performed. Govt. slaughter house ensures that Qurbani takes place and Hajji’s name is mentioned when the animal is being scarified. This operation is performed by professionals and under hygienic conditions. You don’t get to see the Qurbani as it is done per a schedule suitable for proper freezing and packing of the meat which is then forwarded to poor Muslim countries. Why can’t we do this in other Muslim countries? In England, I saw a protest against such barbaric slaughter of animals on Baqr-Eid. Some videos were shown, secretly made, of Muslims making serious mistakes during the slaughter process and animals suffering beyond belief
@Illusion’s post is powerful. Thank you!
@Ahmer,
I think you have completely missed the ‘brutalizing’ part of this debate. No one in America is out slaughtering their turkeys and encouraging their kids to watch that. @Illusion is absolutely correct in relating the lack of tolerance in Pakistani society with such brutal displays of ‘faith’. Also, from what I understand, even in the ‘bastion of Islam’ Saudi Arabia animals are slaughtered and skinned in front of houses while a bunch of kids watching it on.
Don’t be an absolutist. For doing so would mean you may not even walk on this Earth lest you set you for upon an insect. But don’t take relativism to an absolute degree either.
I am a little perplexed, should we all become vegetarians? if thats not what you are saying then i am sorry i am missing the point. I appreciate the message that there should less indulgence but then this sermon should also be given to fashion show organizers, concert organizers, any and all extra curricular activities should be put on hold and resources should be diverted in elevating poverty and ill be all for that.
We should also stop spending monies on building, maintaining mosques, temples, churches, synagogues and invest that money on public welfare as well.
We should also ask americans to stop ‘killing’ turkeys on thanksgiving and while we are at it, if the world estab. can stop killing human beings by thousands every year and immediately put a ban on ALL manufacturers of ALL ammunition right awat.
Putting ban on animal slaughter is a very slippery slope. again i am all for donating money so poor can enjoy meat but in essence you are questioning a very fundamental ritual of islam. Allah knows best