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.
Najmul said:
But I am sure, this comment of mine would irk Mullahs and skin trader community, who in the lust and desire of loads of meat , and a bribe of boties and haddies, just not care what is the right Islamic way.
Wow, kya baat kahi hai.
When I was a kid, a Mullaji of our village used to treat illness of villagers.
His method of treatment started by asking for a murga to be brought.
Then he would summon another murga after a few days.
Then a bakra…
Then a murga again…
Then…
If the patient recovered from illness, it was kudos for the mullah and for the greatness of Islam.
And there were haddies and boties for the mulla and his family either way.
‘Practice’ of any religion, like islam is really great!!! This business never looks down.
Only thing is that you must be a good interpreting mullah.
(Moral of the story : An animal is Allah’s gift for the muslims. It is made ‘subservient’ for all your needs, be it food, transportation,khaals, pleasing Allah, or pleasing Mullah. It serves a muslim more than anything else!)
So what??
to observe empty rituals should be abandoned altogether. But I am sure, this comment of mine would irk Mullahs
Dear Najamul Hasan, Few pages back, a non-Mullah kid was trying to teach about what’s shirk or what not. I think you should listen that non-Mullah kid first. According to him, you are a “Mushrik” now. Qissa Khatam. And as I said before and saying again, “Slaughtering” is not painful. And I asked all pseudo literate ppl around that whether they would suggest some romantic method of slaughtering them? if there’s one then do share otherwise no need to waste your time here. Also you need to define brutality because in non-Muslim countries, slaughter house also “kill” animal and blood does shed out. According to you people, West is more civilized than Mullahs yet they kill and eat animals. Any Turkey or kosher food eater out there???
And no, no Mullah is going to get irked of what you or other liberals are trying to say because Mullah knows enough history that such kind of opposition had already started by anti-Islam forces since advent of Islam so they just ignore what others say. So don’t make your night restless by thinking of Mullahs.
I never commented on “the way slaughtering is done” in Pakistan. Islam and its obligations can not be criticized or denounced for the perceived or factual uncivilized practices of certain culture. On the same principle, would you recommend Zakat to be abolished outright keeping in view corrupt practices in Pakistan?
I have already given a number of authentic Ahaadith from Sahih Bukhari (with references) where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) visited Al-Baqee (graveyard in Madinah and Hajj is not performed in Madinah), then offered Eid prayers and then commanded the Muslims gathered on Eid prayers IN MADINAH to slaughter in the name of Almighty Allah.
I already have offered truce (:P) to Animal lover and so I do to everyone. You are free to criticise the way Muslims of today under-perform as a civilized society, only thing I request is, PLEASE dont distort or hide teachings and beliefs prescribed in Quran and Hadees.
“Apnaa aqeeda mat chhorro, kisi ka aqeeda mat chherro”
If many of us feel that this discussion should not be continued further, then so it be, its quite okay for me.
However, on my last note, let me say something in connection to Naan Haleem’s comments, which merit a
response from me.
Naan Haleem said
>>>I did not sacrifice that camel. I did not slaughter that camel. I was not present over there. I did not make the
video. I did not upload it. I did not post comment on it neither did i said “Enjoy”.
It is not the question of “this camel, or “that” camel. It is in regard to “the” camel, if at all you can understand it.
It is about all camels in general, in fact all innocent animals.
But I know either you do not understand the discussion, or you do not want to understand the issue.
You’re challenged Mr. Haleem, to take a round on the streets in Pakistan on the next Eid, and witness how
brutally the slaughters are actually performed in reality. There of course, you’re free to sacrifice a camel. You’re
free to slaughter a camel. You’re free to be present over there. You should shoot a video and post on the net as
well, and post a comment too. But, I’m sure, if you’re a human, you’d never say “enjoy” but would perhaps say
“lament”.
>>>The deeds of an unskilled butcher should not be taken as proof for declaring religious rituals as shameful.
I’d rather call those all merciless UN-ISLAMIC killers as shameless.
No Mr Haleem! You can not run away from your responsibility by saying that a butcher or two may do it wrong
way. As I challenged you, if anyone truthful enough, and undeceiving to Allah (pbuh) impartially judges this,he
would put this figure of uninformed butchers (who in practice act contrary to what and how the Prophet did!) to
not 1-2 % but 98-99%.
Yes, Mr Haleem! It is reality that the slaughters on the Eid day are not according to Islam.
I said you can not escape from your responsibility. Because, it is only because of Islamic interpreters like you,
and adnan and Yusha et. el., that such traditions are forced upon muslims and their children, and their
generations, and they are brainwashed to follow such rituals blindly, else they are not muslims.
Therefore, either you mend all your butchers to kill islamic way or if they can not, then they should not shoulder
the burden of blood-baths across the streets to make a mockery of Islamic traditions. Or if you can not, then such redundant, hard
to observe empty rituals should be abandoned altogether. But I am sure, this comment of mine would irk Mullahs
and skin trader community, who in the lust and desire of loads of meat , and a bribe of boties and haddies, just
not care what is the right Islamic way.
Please Mr Haleem and Company, do post your videos and experience next year. With your honest and truthful
ratings if 99% of sacrifices are not done according to spirit of Islam or not. And what punishment you order for
them?
Lastly, I read Mr. Animals Lovers’ and yours comments. Your interpretation of sacrifice is not correct. As Animal
Lover said, sacrifice is only a requirement during Hajj ( Remember animal has to go to Ancient Shrine!).
And an animal killed on the streets of Lahore or Karachi never goes to Ancient Shrine!!!)
I won’t argue any further, but please be better informed of religion, before you influence other readers’ mindsets on public domain or, in real life.
rather useless debate