Written by: Waseem Abbas
Posted on: June 28, 2023 | 
| 中文
Muslims pray at the Grand Mosque in the Holy City of Mecca on the occasion of Eid ul Adha
Every year on the occasion of Eid ul Adha, certain sections of society cry over the 'cruelty' of killing (sacrificing) millions of animals in the name of the Almighty. The argument presented is that instead of slaughtering animals, why cannot Muslims donate the money to the needy and the impoverished, which would improve the living standards of the poor, while also saving the animals from facing an untimely death? The argument would have looked plausible, keeping the Islamic argument aside, had the same brigade created the same fuss around the slaughter of millions of animals by KFC and other big food chains over the year, and if also they had restrained themselves from devouring meat throughout the year. Understanding the philosophy of Qurbani from the religious viewpoint would make things much simpler, and would make us understand their perspective.
Sacrificial goats
Eid ul Adha (Festival of Sacrifice), also known as the ‘Greater Eid’, is celebrated by Muslims around the world on the 10th of Dhu al Hijjah, the final day of Hajj. ‘The Festival of Sacrifice’ signifies Muslims’ remembrance of the Prophet Ibrahim’s devoted sacrifice of his beloved son (Ismael) on Allah’s commands, and Ismael’s miraculous survival by the will of God.
Abraham and Issac by Rembrandt
The story of the origins of Bakra Eid is that God commanded Hazrat Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismael in the name of God, and the father conveyed it to his son, as mentioned in the Holy Quran: “Oh son, I keep dreaming that I am slaughtering you". he replied, "Father, do what you are ordered to do”. (Quran, 37:102) Prophet Ibrahim took his beloved son to a desert and while he was on his way, Satan tempted him with doubts and logic, but Prophet Ibrahim and his son, prophet Ismael, both remained steadfast in their faith. As Hazrat Ibrahim was about to perform the needful, Allah replaced Ismael with a ram. Islamic traditions say that it was God’s way of testing his beloved Prophet’s commitment and readiness to sacrifice what he loved the most in Allah’s way. Allah approved Prophet Ibrahim’s act so much that He commanded all the Muslims, who have the means, to sacrifice an animal in remembrance of Prophet Ismael.
The sacrifice of Abraham is not only confined to Muslims, it has its roots in Christianity and Judaism with little alterations. In Christianity, the ‘Book of Genesis’ mentions that Prophet Ibrahim showed readiness to sacrifice his son, Issac, on Allah’s command, the event known as the ‘Binding of Issac’, which is also reinforced in Jewish religious texts.
The Sacrifice of Isaac by Caravaggio
Islamic writers and thinkers have interesting observations about Eid-ul-Adha. Javed Ahmed Ghamidi, a renowned modern Islamic scholar, is of the view that Qurbani shows one's devotion and submission to God's commands. It is a manifestation that Muslims are ready to accept God's orders and it is analogous to pledging one's life to God, just like the Prophet Ibrahim, as it is an inseparable part of their faith. As mentioned in the Quran, “It is not flesh nor their blood that reaches Allah, but the devotion from you that reaches Him.” (Verse 37, Surah 22)
Javed Ahmad Ghamidi
Answering whether Muslims should prefer doing charity, instead of Qurbani, Javed Ghamidi argues that Muslims have two responsibilities, one to God and the other to fellow human beings. Coalescing the two is illogical, and it is akin to questioning one as to why is he not serving his mother when one is serving his father. Both of them have their time and place, and should be looked at separately.
Eid ul Adha has many social strings attached to it. While Muslims from around the world unite on the 10th of Dhul al-Hajj in Makkah to perform Hajj and sacrifice animals, which serves as a Muslims' annual reunion and spiritual reflection. Families reunite on this occasion and neighbors invite each other for dinner or lunch, which is important for social cohesion. Moreover, the sacrificed animal is divided into three equal parts: one for the family, the second for relatives and neighbors, and the third for the poor and needy. This festival provides an opportunity to foster compassion and a sense of community, and to look after those who cannot afford meat.
Cow Mandi
It is important that the real purpose of Qurbani is upheld, including compassion, submission, devotion and selflessness. Moreover, the mass slaughter of animals during Eid-ul-Adha can cause many environmental problems, like issues related to the disposal of waste. It should be considered that Islam is a religion that encompasses all aspects of life, and polluting the environment for a religious cause is not welcome. Another consideration that should be kept in mind is that animals be treated with care and compassion before slaughter, as advised by Islam to slaughter the animal without giving much pain and with a sharp knife. Exhibitionism on social media regarding sacrificing large animals, as well as hoarding meat, is unislamic.
You may also like:
