Sacrifice or Fashion?
By Rai Azlan • Nov 29th, 2009 • Category: Features • 3 CommentsSocial imbalance always disturbs me and most of the times I consider myself as culprit because I can’t even try to bring some good to this factor. Such social imbalance emerges with a new height on special occasions such as Eid. We celebrated Eid-ul-Duha today, distributed the meat of sacrificed animal, and donated the hides of animals to the deserved one. But right now, as always, I am thinking that had we achieve the soul of this sacrifice?
I don’t know why? But I am feeling as if this sacrifice has become a status symbol or something like fashion rather than a religious obligation. The Bakra Mafia (that’s what I call to the people who increase the prices of Sacrifice-able animals) has successfully taken the animal out of purchasing power of a common man. According to my observation this year people, who sacrificed, have preferred to have a share in cow’s sacrifice rather than buying a Goat. The reason is loud and clear; the economic condition of a common man and the cruelty of Bakra mafia do not allow one to even think abbot a goat.
The people who can afford an animal feel rally proud and use it as a bench mark of their status symbol. People introduce their animal with a great stress on the price of the “innocent one”. If somehow a financially deprived person buys a goat, which is less in price and have health according to its price, he receives an “overwhelming” response from the people and even become a laughing stock. Why cannot we appreciate the spirit rather than the price and health of the animal?
Allah has asked for the sacrifice not for the exhibition, and how come we always forget the “Last Hajj Address” of Prophet MUHAMMAD (S.A.W), which clearly defines Piety as the standard of gaining honor in the eyes of Almighty Allah rather than the exhibition of social status, the level of wealth, and belongingness to a certain class.
Even after a good time spending over thinking to figure out is it a sacrifice or status symbol. The question is still alive “Sacrifice or Fashion”???
In the end I want to wish A Happy and Prosperous Enid to everyone and apologies me for writing the thing in the end whish I was, supposed to state first.
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A freelance Writer, an Activist, A blogger, potential Entrepreneur, an Icon in the Making, currently doing his MSc in Marketing, love the world of books, explore the world as a traveler, meat people from different wals of life and known as social animal. However still a student of life.
Rai Azlan blogs at http://MyLandPakistan.com and you can follow him on twitter @Rai_Azlan
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In India also the price of Bakhras have sky rocketed with Muslims having more disposable income and Cow sacrifice having been banned. A kilo of ordinary meat costs rupees 250/- per Kg. A bhakra weighing 10 Kg of skinnles meat must cost about rupees 3000/- for its meat value. But they cost as much as rupees 50,000/- and in some cases some huge special bhakras named as Salman Khan etc fetch as much as rupees 2 lakhs!!!!
What ever the price of bakra add 3000 to it
1000 transportation charges
2000 the fees for Kasab (not ajmal kasab)
so when i thought of buying a goat it occured to me that it might cost me around 16,000 and the contribution in the mosque qurbani would cost me 4500, that almost a saving of 70%
with the sky rocketing inflation overall, it was one of the easiest decision i would make
Rai
no way a pure sacrifice can be part of fashion but fashion is the name of sacrifice your natural style ,habits , moral and religious values .While having fashion we adopt others ideas and time changing themes.When people take this ritual as fashion there would be no religious association left to this ceremonial acts.
Arias
there is no obligation in this sacrifice to take burden.In our country if you give this 4500 to any hungry family for buying food for one month then it would be more worth than you butchered a 20000 bakra and put them in your freezer or give feast to your friends.
My butcher this time surprised me as he told me second day of eid that it was first home among 25 where servants are getting the meat pieces of their choices otherwise all homes bad pieces were being kept for distribution and all fine parts of meat are junked in freezer for good coming days.So this way you can judge what is real spirit we have behind this cosmetic way of sacrifice.