My random thought: Ied Adha

By: Ori Istihari on 3:13 AM

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A petition comes to my mail this noon and the issue briefly advocates:

 "The law cannot be given a go by when it comes to animal sacrifices during religious occasions. Most of these animal sacrifices take place in open areas near religious places watched even by children. The animals are killed by untrained persons causing much pain to them. Moreover, other animals also watch it causing trauma to them," 

(Picture 1. A kid is giving a bag of meat to the needy)

Well, there is always an outcry from international communities regarding religion and animal sacrifice. While some of them are understandable, I personally don’t have any problems with muslims’ sacrificing animals during Eid Adha as its purpose is to feed the poor and the hungry. When doing community service, I stayed in a remote area for two months where people’s lives were very basic. Some of them could hardly afford foods. We set a program where we invited local kids to our camp to learn basic things like music and crafts. I would make little treats like jello packs and even just those small things brought out their ebullience. One of the kids went home and told the parents about how happy she was spending time with us and the parent managed to show their gratitude by giving us a piece of cassava that she took from the wood saying ‘I don’t have much but I really wanna give you something’. I learn that those people, out of all the limitations they have, own really big hearts.

For those very people, meat is a delicacy. They don’t get to enjoy it any time they want. And this would be one of the moments allowing it to be served on their worn out table clothes. However, to me Eid Adha should be celebrated in a certain manner. For those who are fortunate enough to contribute should use this moment, not to celebrate, but to contemplate.. While the animal sacrifice symbolizes people’s willing to detach themselves from their fortune and wealth by sharing it and giving it away (not merely to please God), people should be ashamed knowing that these animals are losing their lives so human have a chance to repent for their wrongdoings.

It’s true that it’s not the animal’ sacrifices that cause our sin to be forgiven, but our creed, our good deeds, and Taqwa to Allah (which one of it is by obeying Allah Commads to sacrificing animals).

#Selamat Idul Adha