As Eid-ul-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, approaches, a familiar sight returns to streets and markets: cows, goats, and other animals huddled in temporary shelters, waiting for their fate. Eyes filled with fear, they sense what lies ahead. And yet, year after year, they are slaughtered in the name of devotion.
But here’s the question that tugs at the hearts of many—including myself, a Hindu who believes in interfaith respect: Is this really what God wants?
The Real Meaning of Sacrifice
Eid-ul-Adha commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his beloved son in obedience to Allah. But the story ends not in blood, but in mercy—Allah replaced the child with a ram. The deeper meaning is not about the act of killing, but about the willingness to part with what we love most—our ego, our comfort, our wealth—for the sake of goodness and obedience to the Divine.
Sacrifice doesn't mean slaughter. It means selflessness.
Wouldn't it be more meaningful to:
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Donate food to the hungry after a day of fasting?
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Feed stray animals instead of ending their lives?
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Use a portion of your savings to help an orphan, a widow, or someone in need?
These acts also require letting go of something valuable. But they give life, instead of taking it.
The Forgotten Compassion
It’s heartbreaking to see animals lined up days in advance, aware and terrified. They are not mere offerings. They are living beings, with mothers, feelings, and fear. Just like us.
We live in a time where empathy should lead religion, not rituals. Isn't it ironic that a festival rooted in obedience and kindness is now synonymous with mass killing? Thousands of animals are sacrificed, their blood flowing through streets, their cries lost in celebration. This isn't devotion—this is desensitization.
Not Just a Muslim Issue
Let’s be fair—this mindset isn’t limited to one faith. In Hinduism too, “bali” or animal sacrifice is practiced in certain regions. I, too, stand against that. No god, in any religion, should demand blood to be pleased. If a deity demands pain to prove your loyalty, then maybe it’s not divinity you're worshipping—but tradition gone wrong.
A Call to All Faiths
This isn’t about being anti-Muslim or anti-Hindu. It’s about being pro-compassion. As the world evolves, our understanding of faith must evolve too. The essence of every religion is love, sacrifice, and charity—not cruelty.
This Eid-ul-Adha, ask yourself:
What sacrifice would truly honor Allah?
Is it a terrified animal’s life?
Or a generous act that uplifts another human being?
Let’s move from tradition to transformation. Let's redefine Qurbani—not as bloodshed, but as heartfelt giving.
