KARACHI:
Muslims all over the world celebrate Eidul Azha to commemorate the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and sacrifice animals in line with his sunnah. This sacrifice is meant to please Allah Almighty for His blessings as He Himself says in the Quran, “Neither their flesh reaches Allah nor their blood; it is your piety that reaches Him.”
Unfortunately though, a large number of people, if not the majority, who sacrifice animals on the occasion of Eidul Azha indulge in a kind of race with others over buying something that becomes a source of pride for them in their community. I have seen many people who make it a point to buy an animal that is more expensive than the one their neighbour has bought. This is an unfair and unhealthy competition which is not liked by Allah. Such a competition is also having a bad impact on society where young ones, while following their elders, are only learning how to compete with others in pomp and show. And the tendency to buy more and more expensive animal has also led to an unimaginable rise in the prices of sacrificial animals – something that is making it difficult for average income people to perform the sunnah of Prophet Ibrahim (AS).
How could a sacrifice which is meant to earn name and fame in society be acceptable to Almighty Allah! People must know that.
Ashfaq Sharif
Karachi
Published in The Express Tribune, July 17th, 2021.
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