Pakistani appeal to renounce animal sacrifice

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http://pakistaniat.com/2009/11/26/eid-sacrifice/ Celebrate the Spirit of

Sacrifice. Spare the Animals.<http://pakistaniat.com/2009/11/26/eid-sacrifice/>

Posted on November 26, 2009

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on or around the corner. I wish you all a safe, happy and fulfilling

celebration with your family and friends.

 

All I ask is, please spare the poor goat or lamb or cow’s

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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.*