Dr. Forqan Uddin Ahmed :
Eid-ul-Adha is celebrated across the Muslim world under various names. In Egypt, it is called Eid-ul-Baqara; in Saudi Arabia and some other Middle Eastern countries, it is known as Eid-e-Qurban; in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Iran, it is called Bakra Eid; in Turkey, Kurban Bayram; and in the Arabian Gulf, Yawm al-Nahr. Eid means a recurring festival of joy. During this Eid, animal sacrifice is mandatory for those who are financially capable. The meat from the sacrificed animal is divided into three parts: one for the poor, one for relatives and friends, and one for the family.
The objective is to include the less fortunate in the joy of celebration. Through this sacrifice, the beastly instincts incited by Satan are subdued, and Taqwa (God-consciousness) is attained. Our lives and wealth are blessings from Allah, and Qurbani is a small test of our willingness to return our most beloved possessions to Him.
It is an expression of servitude, love, and devotion toward our Creator. Qurbani is not about mere ritual slaughter or celebration with family, but about true self-sacrifice and internal purification. The deeper aim is to uproot the animalistic impulses within ourselves and to seek the pleasure of our only Lord.
The first man and woman in the world prophet Adam and mother Hawa started the culture of Qurbani with the incidents of their two sons Habil and Kabil. A woman name Aklima came to their life. For her, the rivalry arose high in them. By the order of father Adam both the brother arranged for slaughtering. God accepted Habil’s and Kabil’s was rejected.
The greatest sacrifice of prophet Ibrahim was accepted to Almighty and animal slaughter is duly introduced instead of his beloved son. Qurbani is nothing but a way of testing and trialing to purify of one’s mindset –whether we have a clean mind free from brutality, jealousy and cruelty. Neither a big size animal nor its flesh reaches the Almighty but God fearing is the main factor.
Today in the name of “Qurbani” many have a tendency to exhibit big animals in facebook as if there is a race of competition of animals. People also try to show their aristocracy in the society.
The whole universe comes under the umbrella of unity and communism. It speaks fraternity, brotherhood, tolerance and forgiveness. It removes terrorism, corruptions, war, anger, hunger and luxury. There lies a social and economic obligation of human being. It removes the high and low differences of mankind. Through slaughter, purity is attained. Humanity and justice is restored.
We get a discrimination free society. Rich and poor all have the rights to enjoy and taking the taste of rich food. It should not be confined only to ceremony. It must appear before us with the noble teaching of humanity. We need to have teaching of Eid-ul-Azha, so that we maintain harmony among human beings. If we follow the ideal and message of it, we would be able to live in peace with the ideology of truth and beauty. Profit and loss of animal and social status by animals’ exhibition is completely forbidden.
This never serves the purpose of Qurbani and the objective will never be fulfilled to Almighty God. Our only aim will be to satisfy God through slaughter. In the festival the animal skin must be sold with a logical price and meat requires to be distributed among the poor and unprivileged people in society. But syndicated action by a group of people spoils the holy purposes. So, meat must be distributed to the poor and joy and delights are required to be shared for festival sake. Besides, sorrows and suffering must be shared with the poor.
Qurbani also has a close connection with the national economy and social environment. Eid-ul-Azha corresponds with Hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca by the financially able Muslims. The Hajj has been a major source of foreign currency for the Saudi economy since the earliest days when the Hajj was introduced. It is an important source for foreign currency exchange for other economies as well. Bangladesh economy has to handle banking transactions along with foreign currency exchanges and job creation to help the pilgrims.
The performance of Hajj and sacrifice of cattle during Eid-ul-Azha generate money supply, promote trade and business, create jobs, and overall, helps the economy. Competent macro management of such supply side economy can prove to be crucial for sustainable development. Millions of animals will be sacrificed on the occasion of this upcoming Eid-ul-Adha. We must ensure proper preservation, marketing, and transportation of animal hides, and manage the waste generated from the slaughter responsibly. Failure to do so could lead to serious public health risks and worsen any ongoing crises.
Everyone involved must take proper action and be vigilant to protect the environment and public health during this sacred time.
In Eid congregation all people forgetting and forgiving their past ill activities, they submit their humble prayer before God for peace and unity. As a result, we see a very heavenly atmosphere in Eid congregation and it becomes a big meeting place with each other.
Let us take and treat this festival as a media of our sense and social bondage. In this Eid our sole demand would be to go the deep essence of Eid-ul-Azha. So we always become the worshiper of the truth and beauty.
Let us promise that we spread the teaching of humanity to all mankind for God’s mercy. Eid-ul-Azha is a memorable day. All Muslims celebrate the day with the spirit of love, fellow feeling, brotherhood, fraternity and sacrifice. With this spirit in their hearts, Muslims would be able to establish humanity and restore peace and tranquility and resist evils.
(The writer is former Deputy Director General, Bangladesh
Ansar and VDP).
