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.
MQ,
Where in Qur’an does it mention the name “Ismail” with reference to this story?
@MQ
This ayah has been quoted multiple times already in this discussion. But here it is again:
“The animal offerings are among the rites decreed by GOD for your own good. You shall mention GOD’s name on them while they are standing in line. Once they are offered for sacrifice, you shall eat therefrom and feed the poor and the needy. This is why we subdued them for you, that you may show your appreciation.” (22:36)
Not sure what you are implying when you say “bakra came in later.”
While the story of Qurabani is still active, its best to check the original source first and then discuss it and put our respective spins on it.
The story is mentioned both in the Bible and the Koran. Both stories are similar except that in the Bible it was Issac who was to be sacrificed and in the Koran it was Ismail.
In the Bible, the story ends with Issac on the ground ready to be sacrificed, and God commanding to Abraham that his sacrifice had been accepted and he should instead sacrifice a lamb. On the other hand in the Koran, the story ends with Ismail on the ground and God telling Ibrahim that his sacrifice had been accepted. Period. There is no mention of the Bakra or any animal.
This bakra came later in the picture, I don’t know, when or from where.
So, these are the facts; now you may wish to pound them.
I had not bought the tickets yet. And then the Swat operation started. I thought (using the analogy presented in the article), that those displaced poor people need more help than my performing Umrah (for my benefit), so I gave the money to the refugees
@No Hajj: That’s the most wonderful thing you have ever done in life that you donated money for Sawat victims. I am no scholar at all but I think that there is a clear difference b/w farz(obligatory) and nafil prayers. Hajj is Farz while Umrah is not so you can skip.
@Temporal: As you yourself said:
spare the poor goat or lamb or cow’s life.
I wonder why are you even forgetting what you said yourself above? Are you not showing “Sympathy” for those “poor” Animals because we go violent against them. It’s amazing that a person who’s misquoting and misinterpreting Quran accusing me to misquote him.
Dear Animal Lovers,
Sacrificing of animals has been going on since forever. Are goats, sheeps, cows, camels in danger of extiction now? or anytime soon? If we keep sacrificing them this way, will they become extinct? I dont think so.
For your other question… thats why I am not a prophet.
On next Eid I will sacrifice an animal.. as that is what Allah has commanded me to do in Quran 22:36.
I think I will sacrifice a goat. I personally like goat’s meat over sheep’s. Sheep’s meet is a bit more fatty. You should try goat meat… it is tasty….. mmmmmm… roasted goat leg… thats the best, my mouth is full of water now…