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.
I know well about Hazart Ibrahim’s ordeal.
I am not accusing anyone, nor pointing any fingers at Islam, but yes, bringing forth something illogical and misconceived.
When it comes to sacrificing your own son, you say Hazart Ibrahim was a Prophet.
Naturally, whatever has been quoted hitherto, applied to the Prophets. Then what is the point in partly emulating the Prophet and in the consequence, blindly killing animals? Obviously, it is difficult for an ordinary man to kill his son, but it is damn easy for him to take countless lives of animals! This is ironical hypocrisy, which is beyond rationale of religion.
Another example of (mis)interpreting religion what it suits you.
Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) was a Prophet. The order of sacrificing his son was given to him by Allah (SWT). You do not know the story of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) and you are trying to accuse people who sacrifice animals on Eid al-Adha.
Why don’t people like you have a problem with the sacrificing of animals throughout the year? Also, what about non-Muslims who kill animals? To me, this seems like a perfect opportunity for people like you to point fingers at Islam.
@ Mohammad Yusha:
Exactly what I wanted to hear from a literate like you.
Why just remember the Hazarat Ibrahim’s sacrifice, why not try to re-enact it?
Why not go ahead and sacrifice your son? If Allah would not want the sacrifice of your son, a nearby lamb would automatically be sacrificed instead!
In that case, respecting Allah’s wish, I would have no objection to the killing of that lamb.
We are discussing here about Islamic sacrifice on the Eid, not about other religions, so please be context specific and do not compare it with ill-practices of other religions.
Typical reply from an illiterate.
Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) was tested by Allah (SWT) to see if he would obey or not. Of course, Allah did not want the sacrifice of his son. Eid al-Adha is a reminder of the incredible obedience Hazrat Ibrahim (AS).
Islam is different from other religions, where human sacrifices have to be undertaken to please so called gods.
Reply when you have finished eating meat.
On the order of Allah (SWT), Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) was ready to sacrifice his son, and today people are having difficulty sacrificing an animal.
Can’t say how the law treats it, but I do not have any objection if you follow Hazrat Ibrahim and go ahead with sacrificing your son on the next Eid.