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Significance of Eid-ul-Azha

Published : Monday, 10 June, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 983
AR Sumon
Eid-ul-Azha, also called Korbanir Eid or Bakrir Eid in this country, is one of the biggest Muslim festivals. During this festival, many animals are sacrificed. Every year, when Eid-ul-Azha comes, some animal lovers strongly oppose this practice. Interestingly, not all of these animal lovers are vegetarians.

We, who live in Muslim-populated areas, know why and how Qurbani started, but I still think its important to explain. Qurbani Eid, or Eid al-Adha, is an Islamic tradition that honors Prophet Ibrahims willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail to obey Allah. According to Islamic belief, just as Ibrahim was about to sacrifice his son, God provided a ram to sacrifice instead. Muslims celebrate this event every year during Eid al-Adha by sacrificing an animal, usually a sheep, goat, cow, or camel.

The essence of Korbani is to show devotion, obedience, and submission to Allahs will. It also highlights the importance of charity, as the meat from the sacrificed animal is shared with family, friends, and those in need. This sharing fosters a sense of community and compassion.

Is the purpose of the sacrifice just to kill the animal?
The purpose of the sacrifice (Qurbani) in Islam is not just to kill the animal. It symbolizes and remembers Prophet Ibrahims willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to Gods command.

Qurbani shows a Muslims willingness to obey and submit to Gods will, just like Prophet Ibrahim did. The meat from the sacrificed animal is shared with family, friends, and the needy. This practice emphasizes charity, community, and helping those less fortunate. The ritual encourages Muslims to reflect on their faith and their willingness to make sacrifices for righteousness and service to others. It commemorates an important event in Islamic history, reinforcing values of faith, sacrifice, and compassion. Thus, the essence of Qurbani goes beyond just sacrificing an animal and includes broader spiritual, ethical, and communal values.

I know many people who are against sacrificing animals on Qurbani Eid in our country. Yet, they wear leather jackets and shoes, love crocodile skin bags, and have deer skin in their living rooms. Their diet includes vegetables, seafood like crab and octopus, various types of fish, chicken, and even beef and mutton.

Few  years ago, it was discovered that trees have life; they can feel happiness, pain, and even cry. But we humans don hear that. Almost everything on this planet is alive. So, what would be eaten if we don kill other species for food?

Humans are at the top of the food chain, eating almost everything from fish to meat to vegetables, even bugs and reptiles. This is how humans are designed by the Creator. Animals are killed for human food every day all over the world without much fuss, but when it comes to Qurbani, a hate campaign starts. The rule of nature is that one life survives by consuming another. This is called the ecosystem, and it maintains the balance of the world.

According to health science, how important is it to eat meat for the human body and why?

Meat is very important for human nutrition because it has many essential nutrients. It is a main source of high-quality protein, essential amino acids, vitamins like B12, B6, and niacin, and minerals such as iron, zinc, and selenium. These nutrients help with muscle growth and repair, immune function, and the formation of red blood cells. However, eating too much red and processed meat can be harmful. Therefore, a balanced approach to eating meat is recommended for good health.

What health risks do vegetarians who avoid animal protein face according to health science?
Vegetarians who don eat animal protein might not get enough important nutrients that are mostly found in animal products. These include vitamin B12, which helps nerves and makes red blood cells, and iron, which carries oxygen in the body. Also, they might not get enough omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for the heart and brain, and zinc, which helps the immune system and healing. Planning meals carefully and taking supplements can help avoid these risks and keep a balanced vegetarian diet.

Eidul Adha also plays a big financial role. During Qurbani, the Islamic festival of animal sacrifice, the leather industry in Bangladesh grows a lot. After Qurbani, theres a lot more rawhide available from the sacrificed animals. This rawhide is really important for making leather. This increase in rawhide helps the leather supply chain a lot, making more leather and sending it for sale in other countries. This time is a big part of the year for getting rawhide, which helps the economy grow because it brings in more money. Having more rawhide also helps make leather production cheaper and makes Bangladeshi leather more competitive worldwide, which is good for the countrys economy. The money made from this also helps support charities like orphanages, social workers, and schools for underprivileged children.

So, is the reason why Qurbani is being criticized mainly because of love for animals? About 20 years ago, there weren as many people against it. In my opinion, this opposition is being fueled. Since Islam phobia has spread globally, few groups have started spreading propaganda targeting the Islamic activities on social media.

Animals are slaughtered every day worldwide for human food, but it doesn get as much attention. When it comes to Qurbani, a hate campaign starts. The rule of nature is that one life survives by taking another. This is called the ecosystem, and it keeps nature balanced.

The main purpose of Qurbani is to dedicate ones beloved things to the Lord, showing complete loyalty to the Creator. Its about giving up anger, violence, and hatred, and promising not to harm anyone in society. Sacrifice means sacrificing oneself for others. Animal sacrifice is just a symbol.

It would be better if animals were slaughtered in designated places instead of openly on roads or near homes. This would help control environmental pollution. It would also allow children and adults who are afraid of blood and animal scream can celebrate Eid without a problem. Even though this isn a big problem in our country, its still important to consider.

The writer is senior photojournalist & feature writer, The Daily Observer


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