Written by: Haroon Shuaib
Posted on: June 14, 2024 | 
| 中文
Eid prayers are offered early in the morning of the Eid day
Eid-ul-Adha, Eid-e-Qurban, also known as Barri Eid (Greater Eid) in Pakistan, is around the corner. It is the second of two great Muslim festivals, the other being Eid-ul-Fitr. Eid al-Adha, also known as Festival of Sacrifice (Qurbani), marks the culmination of the Hajj (pilgrimage) rites at Mina, near Mecca, but is celebrated by Muslims throughout the world. The Eid day, falling on the 10th of Dhū-al-Ḥijjah, the twelfth and the final month of the Islamic calendar, begins by the performance of a special communal prayer (ṣalāt) at daybreak. This Eid too, like Eid-ul-Fitr, is celebrated for three days. During the festival, Muslim families that can afford to sacrifice a ritually acceptable animal (sheep, goat, camel, or cow) do so and then divide the meat amongst themselves, the poor, friends and neighbors. Eid-ul-Adha is also a time for bonding with families, meeting friends, exchanging gifts and festivities throughout the Muslim world.
A family having Eid dinner together (Picture credits to Khaleej Times)
From the Arabian Peninsula to the Himalayan pastures, from African grasslands to Europe, men and their cattle have their existence interwoven in all agrarian and nomadic cultures. Before the modern age, possession of sheep, goats, cows, buffalos and camels were considered the most prized property, and those who owned them were considered privileged. In Islam, those offering sacrifice must choose the best value animal for the offering, according to their status. This can be either camels, cows, sheep or goats. Whether one offers one small animal or a share in a large animal, the reward will be the same, meaning the sacrifice will amount to one Qurbani. The animal must be healthy and free of defects for a Qurbani to be acceptable. It should be devoid of any visible eye defects, including blindness or the loss of one-third of eyesight, sickness or wounds that affect the animal’s health, lameness and undernourishment. Animals such as sheep, goats, cows, camels, oxen, and buffalo are suitable for Qurbani. The animal must have matured in order to be eligible for sacrifice. This is between six to 12 months for sheep, one year for goats, and two years for cows. In the case of camels, it means one that is five years old.
Animals on sale for Qurbani
Qurbani in the name of the Almighty has a very long history in Islam. In Chapter Hajj (Verse:37) while describing the essence of Qurbani, Quran says: “It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is piety from you that reaches Him. Thus, we have made them subject to you that you may magnify Allah for His Guidance to you. And give glad tidings (O Muhammad PBUH) to the Muhsinun (doers of good).” This injunction underscores that for any sacrifice, what matters is the sincerity and the sense of purpose. What is required is the feeling inside that even if one is asked to offer oneself or one’s wealth in Allah’s way for sacrifice, one would be ready for it. Qurbani or sacrifice is a symbolic oath of this resolve.
Distribution of Qurbani meat in Hunza
According to traditions, the ritual of sacrificing animals on Eid-ul Adha is a is a reminder of the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim, that he intended in the same spirit of submission to the Divine. Allah (God) had granted Ibrahim a son at a very old age. When this beloved son, Ismail was a young boy, Ibrahim saw in a dream that he was sacrificing his son. Since the dreams of the Prophets are true, Ibrahim deduced that this was the Divine Will. He resolved to fulfill this command and discussed his dream with his son. Ismail assured his father that he would be steadfast in Allah’s command. When Ibrahim was about to implement his dream, the knife became blunt and ineffective. Eventually, he heard a voice saying: “You have fulfilled the dream (vision)!”. In commemoration of this spirit of sacrifice, Allah ordered the followers of the Prophet Muhammad to sacrifice an animal on the occasion of Eid-ul Adha. For this reason, Prophet Muhammad described this festival as “The Sunnah of your father Ibrahim”. Qurbani or sacrifice is synonymous with surrender. It symbolizes that the person performing Qurbani is willing to sacrifice everything dear to him for the Divine. Like all religious festivals irrespective of their origin, Eids, particularly Eid-ul-Adha, is a time to share food and put on good clothes. Since every household either sacrifices an animal or receives meat from others as a gift, meat delicacies are cooked and consumed by all. Young girls and elderly women alike put henna on their hands and wear bangles. While the essence of the Eid-ul-Adha remains consistent, the customs and traditions surrounding it vary from region to region. In many regions, local customs and celebratory rituals have also become part of the Eid celebration. In China, incense and lanterns are lit, in Malaysia children take out celebratory processions, and in Africa communal meals are cooked at central locations and food is shared.
Qurbani meat is also distributed amongst the poor and needy
Perhaps nowhere is the display of the joy of Eid-ul-Adha more evident than in the birthplace of Islam, Saudi Arabia. Millions of Muslim pilgrims who gather in Saudi Arabia from all over the world engage in communal prayers at the Grand Mosque and festivities continue with the sacrificial slaughter of animals and the distribution of meat at scale that would have few parallels. According to some estimates over a million animals are sacrificed by pilgrims before they take off their Ahram, the sacred white robe that they put on at the start of the Hajj rituals. Since all the meat can not be consumed by the locals and the pilgrims, Saudi government makes arrangements for most of this meat to be sent to other parts of the world, where Muslim communities are in distress or do not possess ample means to offer their Qurbani. Many charitable organizations and philanthropists also sacrifice a large number of animals and distribute the meat amongst those with less means. It makes it possible for many, who cannot usually consume animal proteins due to it being costly, to also sample meat at least once during the year.
A collage of famous Eid dishes in Pakistan
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