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Islam Should Muslims Reconsider Animal Slaughter On Eid?

namjiwankaur

SPNer
Nov 14, 2010
557
433
USA
by Anila Muhammad

Friday, October 26th, marks the upcoming annual celebration of Eid al-Adha, which commemorates the story of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael, is a day of celebration around the Muslim world. However, for millions of animals it is anything but a day for rejoicing as this day marks the beginning of ritual animal slaughter.

Many individuals in the Muslim world are either refusing to participate in this ritual or speaking up and asking for an end to animal sacrifice. Some are notable animal advocates such as Amira Hassan from Tunisia, Seçil Aracı from Turkey and Amina Abaza the founder of the Society for Protecting the Rights of Animals in Egypt.

And it isn't just animal advocates who wish to see an end to this ritual. It is average Muslims who are re-evaluating if this ritual is actually part of the tradition of compassion and mercy as espoused by the Quran and the living example of the Prophet Muhammad.

The Story of Abraham

Shahid 'Ali Muttaqi has written a widely circulated and robust piece on the religious and historical inaccuracies connected to the Eid sacrifice. His piece indicates that the single largest contributing factor to why this ritual continues is the misinterpretation of the story of Abraham.

In the traditional story Abraham, upon seeing a vision, believes God is instructing him to sacrifice his son, Ishmael. As the story goes, when Abraham is about to begin the sacrifice God saves Ishmael's life by providing a ram in his place.

If one opens the Quran, at verse 37:102, to read the ACTUAL story the interpretation turns out to be rather different:

"He (Abraham) said: "Oh my son! I see in vision That I offer thee in sacrifice: Now see what is Thy view!" (The son) said: "Oh my father! Do As thou art commanded: Thou wilt find me, If Allah so wills one Practicing patience and constancy!" So when they had both Submitted their wills (to Allah), And he had laid him Prostrate on his forehead (For sacifice), We called out to him, "Oh Abraham! Thou hast already fulfilled The vision!" thus indeed Do We reward Those who do right. For this was obviously A trial And We ransomed him With a momentous sacrifice."
The Quran states that Abraham had a dream in which he believed God was instructing him to sacrifice his son. What should be obvious, yet is overlooked, is that at no point does the Quran state the dream was from God or that God demanded this sacrifice. This is an important distinction to make since the insistence for animal sacrifice is based upon the notion that Abraham's vision came from God and God instructed Abraham to sacrifice his son. In fact it should be noted that God interjects to stop Abraham from sacrificing his son.

The next distinction to make in the story has to do with a translation of the last line -- "And We ransomed him With a momentous sacrifice."

In some translations of the Quran the term "Momentous sacrifice" has been replaced with animal sacrifice. There seems to be some debate among scholars on this last, but crucial, sentence. Quranic scholars such as Muhammad Asad have further interpreted this line to read "mighty" or "tremendous" and have indicated (in their references) that Abraham, himself, not God, sought out a Ram for slaughter.

In fact the Abrahamic sacrifice had nothing to do with the physical act of blood-letting. Abraham's sacrifice was ACTUALLY about his willingness to let go of the most important thing in his life, in order to fulfill, what he perceived to be, the will of the Divine Creator.

In order to properly commemorate Abraham's sacrifice it's important to ask ourselves if we are giving up something of intense value when we reduce the sacrifice to slaughtering an animal. Are we really making the same type of emotional and mental sacrifice that Abraham made? If not, then how exactly are we enhancing our spiritual development by continuing with this tradition?

Quick Poll
Should Muslims Stop the Tradition of Slaughtering Animals on Eid al-Adha?
No, it's a meaningful practice

Yes, it's an antiquated, inhumane practice

VOTE

Concern for the Disadvantaged

The next reason the practice of animal sacrifice continues has to do with the argument of using the meat of these animals to be able to feed disadvantaged people. Yes, it is true that some of the meat of the sacrificed animal goes to feed the poor.

However, we must ask ourselves -- are we concerned with feeding people for only a few days or maintaining the message of social justice the Quran espouses?

"It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards the East and the West, but righteous is the one who believes in Allah, and the Last Day, and the angels and the Book and the prophets and gives away wealth out of love for Him (God) to the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and to those who ask and sets slaves free... 2:177"

There are numerous verses devoted to social justice in the Quran. This one has been interpreted by scholars to mean that holistic spiritual observation involves understanding and responding to the conditions of the disadvantaged in our communities. That giving "away wealth" does not only include money but our time, involvement and long-term commitment to helping shift the conditions of those who do not have. And, meaningless religious observation, done for the sake of tradition, as is the case with animal sacrifice, has limited scope to alter conditions.

If we are concerned with social justice and creating meaningful, long term change then we Muslims must reconsider funneling our money from this sacrifice and make other investments in our communities to help the disadvantaged. Maybe those investments would be towards grassroots organizations. Such organizations engage the communities they work for. They give power to their constituents to determine what they need (education, vocational training, health care) instead of assuming to know what they need (meat), thereby "helping to change the condition of a people" (Quran 13:11) for the long-term.

Treatment and Conditions of Animals.

It would not be possible to discuss this issue without recognizing the very beings that give their lives for this tradition -- the animals.

There is a strong tradition in Islam for the just and humane treatment of animals and especially those who are to be slaughtered. The Prophet Muhammad, who was a strong advocate for animals and sensitive to their suffering, advised his followers "Fear God in regards to these animals who cannot speak their will." Al-Hafiz B.A. Masri, one of the leading Muslim scholars on the issue of animal welfare writes:

"If animals have been subjected to cruelties in their breeding, transport, slaughter, or in their general welfare, meat from them is considered impure and unlawful to eat (Haram). The flesh of animals killed by cruel methods (Al-Muthiah) is carrion (Al-Mujaththamah). Even if these animals have been slaughtered in the strictest Islamic manner, if cruelties were inflicted on them otherwise, their flesh is still forbidden (Haram) food."

Yet this idea of humane treatment of animals in Islam is at complete odds with the reality of how animals are treated. Live animal exports to Muslim countries from places such as Australia and New Zealand account for a majority of the animals who are used for the Eid sacrifice. There is now indisputable documented evidence, from both Muslim and non-Muslim investigators, detailing a level of cruelty to these animals, that would have caused our Prophet to weep.

Live export animals are routinely packed tight into transport containers for journeys that can take weeks. During that time they are provided with no food, no water, and stand chained and immobile in their own urine and feces. Many animals die of dehydration and malnutrition. Many pregnant sheep or cows give birth to their babies in these conditions, only to watch them die a slow, painful death.

Even if we forget for a moment how these animals arrive at their destination. Consider that during the Hajj more than two million animals are sacrificed in one day. It is absolutely impossible to slaughter this number of animals, within a few hours, and think it is done in a humane manner. In many Muslim countries butchers are now admitting that the demand for sacrificing animals keeps them from using Islamic humane methods, thus, rendering the slaughter against the very tenants of Islam and the meat un- Halal (not fit for consumption by Muslims).

If this is not reason enough to forgo the Eid sacrifice then consider that the livestock industry is the leading contributor towards land, air and water pollution and degradation of our ecosystem.

Consider, that, the very act of involving ourselves in the ritual animal sacrifice places our earth at jeopardy. As Muslims, on Eid, and the rest of the year, should we not be mindful of whether continuing such a tradition is compatible with our Islamic responsibility to be care-takers of this earth.

Many Muslims have privately contemplated these very points and have determined this tradition does not serve their understanding of Islam. You will find some of their thoughts and comments at thecompassionatemuslim.com. We invite all Muslims, progressive, moderate, conservative, atheist or agnostic , to join us and voice your story, and inspire others, to exchange the tradition of animal sacrifice for one of mercy and compassion.

Source: Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com)
 

Kanwaljit.Singh

Writer
SPNer
Jan 29, 2011
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Vancouver, Canada
One thing that truly differentiates humans from God is the lack of determinism with regards to future. I surely don't want anything like this happening in the future.

I have 2 views regarding Sikhi. One what the Sikhs are doing. Other what Guru Granth Sahib is saying. What Sikhs do, is just like what humans do, can have right or wrong aspects. What Guru Sahib say, is the absolute Truth for me.
 

bairaagi

SPNer
Dec 25, 2011
23
35
gurgaon
I have seen many Muslims reconsidering this rituals in my neighborhood but their reasons are different . They are not able to afford Goats because of large family size (at least 8 children per pair) and sky touching Inflation :D
 

Randip Singh

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May 25, 2005
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Sat Nam! _/|\_

How would you feel about Sikhi if it was a common practice? Would it change your views?

NamJiwan

AAaa but we do do it,

Halal or Bismil is merely a purification ceremony making it fit for consumption. The fact we purfy vegetarian stuff is the same hypocritical nonsense that has crept into our faith.

The Guru's discouraged ritual purification (yet we still do it). Purify Karah Parashad, Purify Langaar, Purify this that. All nonsense.

Because it's an animal it makes no difference. I would have no problems as a Saint Soldier killing an animal for consumption. I would however, have a problem killing it as part of some elaborate purification ritual.
 

namjiwankaur

SPNer
Nov 14, 2010
557
433
USA
Sat Nam _/|\_

@ Auzer ji

If you can get those numbers, I would be very interested in knowing them. Also do you know how the meat is brought into community of the poor who need the food. And is there any prohibition when it comes to non-Muslims receiving the meat?

Is there any data as to approximately how many animals are slaughtered on the event of Eid ul Azha?

@ Randip ji

I don't believe it is a purification ritual when animals are sacrificed in Islam. It is meant to show the same piety Abraham had when he dreamed God asked him to sacrifice his son (which I believe is an esoteric parable-like story not a literal one). I suspect this was about the way Abraham was asked to trust, first of all, that God would give him a son & then asked to create with his lineage through Hagar and Sarah the Abrahamic religions.

But I also don't think the Eid sacrifice for Muslims can offer the same lessons Abraham learned. It is merely a ritual, not a statement that a Muslim should and will surrender her entire being, her entire soul, her entire wealth, her relationship to her children, if need be to God. That's a tall order most of us can't actualize. We want cars more than we want a poverty that clears the way for nothing else but God.

I also think reciting the Bismillah when slaughtering is not about purifying the animal. It is supposed to create a spiritual relationship between the slaughterer/ meat-eater and God.

I'm hoping I make sense.

On the other hand, I know the story of the goats and Guru Gobind Singh. It was one reason I chose a spiritual relationship with Sikhism, but not to convert (at least, God seems to want me to stay in one place right now by a universal approach to Sufism, the religion of Dhikr (Divine Remembrance/Simran/repeating the Naam) and surrender to being in a relationship with Love and a conduit of that Love.

I think, in its contents, my Sufi path could just as easily be a Sikh path. It would only mean which religion received the priority.

My spritual name has helped me recognize that I was holding on to tight to a certain perspective about Sufism and that to use a name that is not Arabic, I was opening my heart to the One found in One All. I still feel a strong attachment to the kara and kesh. And maybe to a Sufi-Sikh turban. And to the gurus and Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

Its beautiful having the freedom to find this path of Unity in Celebration of Diversity.

Nam Jiwan :)
 

Randip Singh

Writer
Historian
SPNer
May 25, 2005
2,935
2,949
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United Kingdom
Sat Nam _/|\_

@ Randip ji

I don't believe it is a purification ritual when animals are sacrificed in Islam. It is meant to show the same piety Abraham had when he dreamed God asked him to sacrifice his son (which I believe is an esoteric parable-like story not a literal one). I suspect this was about the way Abraham was asked to trust, first of all, that God would give him a son & then asked to create with his lineage through Hagar and Sarah the Abrahamic religions.

But I also don't think the Eid sacrifice for Muslims can offer the same lessons Abraham learned. It is merely a ritual, not a statement that a Muslim should and will surrender her entire being, her entire soul, her entire wealth, her relationship to her children, if need be to God. That's a tall order most of us can't actualize. We want cars more than we want a poverty that clears the way for nothing else but God.

I also think reciting the Bismillah when slaughtering is not about purifying the animal. It is supposed to create a spiritual relationship between the slaughterer/ meat-eater and God.

I'm hoping I make sense.

On the other hand, I know the story of the goats and Guru Gobind Singh. It was one reason I chose a spiritual relationship with Sikhism, but not to convert (at least, God seems to want me to stay in one place right now by a universal approach to Sufism, the religion of Dhikr (Divine Remembrance/Simran/repeating the Naam) and surrender to being in a relationship with Love and a conduit of that Love.

I think, in its contents, my Sufi path could just as easily be a Sikh path. It would only mean which religion received the priority.

My spritual name has helped me recognize that I was holding on to tight to a certain perspective about Sufism and that to use a name that is not Arabic, I was opening my heart to the One found in One All. I still feel a strong attachment to the kara and kesh. And maybe to a Sufi-Sikh turban. And to the gurus and Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

Its beautiful having the freedom to find this path of Unity in Celebration of Diversity.

Nam Jiwan :)

There are two issues here:

1) The Ritual
2) The Method

1) The Ritual is as you have correctly pointed out to do with the sacrifice (or potential) of Abraham

2) The method - Halal or Bismil which is a sort of purification.

with (2) Sikhs do not believe we can purify God's handiwork.

Hope that clarifies what I meant.
 

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