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.
@animal lover,
Great point.
I totally agree that today animal sacrifice is uncalled for.Their are better ways to prove that your life is for Allah.
Today Animal Qurbani is nothing more than mere show-off. As you say, the meat is going to “Fridge wale poors”. Very entertaining narration by you.Thanks animal lover.
I am glad you have raised this issue. I think we should consider this seriously as a way of meeting our religious duty of sacrifice but in a way that makes sense in today’s world.
@Viqar who said:
“Ibrahim, Ali Khan, and other pro-Qurbani lot:
Let me re-phrase the issue a little.
Are you demanding that people should be forced to do qurbani on Eid-ul-Azha (even if they do not want to)?”
Of course not. I can’t speak for others, but what I am saying is that any random person should not start publishing his opinion about what certain Quranic verses mean and suggest that we change something that was the way of the Prophet (pbuh), the sahabah, the four imams and notable scholars after them. In other words, we need to exercise caution and stay clear of bid’at.
For temporal et all who believes in that “brutal” sacrifice is part of Islam, they should enlightened themselves by reading the following:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_sacrifice
The amazing thing is that Hindu belief encourages scarification of goat and horse.
@”Mussalman”
If you think I’m lying just get whatever I say verified by a scholar. If I’m wrong I’ll gladly change my opinion unlike those who advance non-Islamic ideas based on desires.
The point about moon sighthing was that witnesses are required. Also, how did I contradict myself?? AT LEAST two witnesses means that the number of witnesses can change. The requirement of having at least two is what I remember. Since you’re so concern about my lying please go ahead and prove me wrong. If you provide an authentic source stating one is enough, I’ve got no problem with it. But, no authentic source will say that you can base moon sighting on a calendar. That’s for sure.