In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
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he festival of sacrifice
- known popularly as Bakrid - is
celebrated in commemoration of the great sacrifice of Prophet
Abraham (Peace be upon him), an exemplary
man who lived 5,000 years ago. Abraham was an intelligent, upright and
rationally thinking man. He could not tolerate the superstitious practices of
the society in which he was born. His father himself was a chief priest
manufacturing and selling idols.
Says the Holy Qurán:
“And recite to them news
of Abraham, when he said to his father and people, ‘What do you worship?’ They
said, ‘We worship idols and remain to them
devoted.’ He said, ‘Do they hear you
supplicate? Or do they benefit you, or do they harm?’ They said, ‘But we found
our fathers doing this.’” (Qurán 26: 69-75)
Abraham could not accept
their answer. He wisely called upon them to reason.
“So when the night covered him, he saw a star. He said,
‘This is my Lord.’ But when it set, he said, ‘I like not those that set.’ And
when he saw the moon rising, he said, ‘This is my Lord.’ But when it set, he
said, ‘Unless my Lord guides me, I will surely be among the people gone
astray.’ And when saw the sun rising he said, ‘This is my lord; this is
greater.’ But when it set, he said, ‘O my people! Indeed, I am free from what
you associate with Allah. [1]’”
(Qurán 6: 76-78)
Abraham openly declared
before the worshippers of idols, celestial bodies and false gods that he is not
with them.
“‘Indeed, I have turned my face toward Him who created the
heavens and the earth, inclining towards truth, and I am not of those who
associate others with Allah.’” (Qurán 6: 79)
“[He said]: ‘Do you
observe that which you and your forefathers have been worshipping? Indeed, they
are enemies to me, except the Lord of the worlds, Who created me, and He [it is
who] guides me. And it is He who feeds me and gives me drink. And when I am
ill, it is He who cures me.’” (Qurán 26: 76-81)
Abraham was chosen by
Almighty God as His messenger. Like all other messengers of God, he also
struggled hard to re-establish DHARMA. That
is to call back people to worship the Creator
and Sustainer of the Universe. The greatest ADARMA is to worship anything other than Him. In the sight of God
Almighty the act of associating or attributing partners to Him or worshipping
any of His creations is the greatest sin.
“Verily, joining others in worship with Allah is a great
injustice.” (Qurán 31: 13)
The Qur’an also warns
this as an unforgivable sin and those who commit this will be eternally in
Hell-fire. This is the evil which distorts the concept of real God in human
mind and thus makes man fearless to commit sins. Further it divides humanity on
the basis of the deity which they worship. This evil is the root cause of the
caste-system, untouchability, inequality, exploitation, priesthood and other
social evils. In spite of the opposition from his own father and his society,
Abraham fought single-handedly against his superstitious society and called
them to worship the Creator: In the process he was forced to face several
trials and hardships. He was expelled by his father from his home. As Abraham
took a firm stand against the worshipping of idols, his father and people
together punished him by casting him into a big fire. But God Almighty saved
him by His miracle. God ordered:
“O fire! Be you cool and safe for Abraham.” (Qurán 21: 69)
Later, Abraham was
summoned by the ruler Namrud who had proclaimed god-hood for himself fearing
challenge from him. The Qur’an mentions this confrontation thus:
“Have you not considered the one who argued with Abraham about his Lord
[merely] because Allah had given him kingship? When Abraham said, "My Lord
is the one who gives life and causes death," he said, "I give life
and cause death." Abraham said, "Indeed, Allah brings up the sun from
the east, so bring it up from the west." So the disbeliever was
overwhelmed [by astonishment], and Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.”
(Qur’an 2: 258)
In spite of all these
incidents, there was no significant response to Abraham’s call to worship the Creator. He was forced to emigrate
along with his few followers. In later life, Abraham and his family had to
undergo several more tests from the Almighty God, for God wished to test the
limits of his patient obedience to His
commands.
Abraham was asked by God
to leave his wife Hajer and suckling son Ishmael in the barren valley at Mecca, where the Ka’aba
stands today. At the time that Abraham was asked to do so, there were neither
people nor water in that barren land. As they passed the test of patience, God
gifted them a well called as zamzam, from which the water flows
continuously till now. Next Abraham was asked by God to sacrifice his beloved
son. In the Qur’an God mentions:
“And when he reached with him [the age of] exertion, he
said, ‘O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you, so
see what you think.’ He said, ‘O my father, do as you are commanded. You will
find me, if Allah wills, of the steadfast.’ And when they had both submitted
and he put him down upon his forehead, We called to him, ‘O Abraham, You have
fulfilled the vision.’ Indeed, we thus reward the doers of good.” (Qurán 37:
102-105)
As they successfully
passed this test, God Almighty asked him to sacrifice a ram instead. This great
sacrifice of father willing to slaughter his own son is being remembered every
year on the day of Bakrid otherwise
known as festival of sacrifice.
There is a great lesson for mankind in this sacrifice
We all know that the
present life on this earth is temporary. One day this whole world will be
destroyed completely by God Almighty. He will resurrect all human beings right
from the first to the last man who inhabited this earth. Following this, all of
them will be brought before God Almighty for judgment of their deeds on earth.
Everyone will be shown their good and bad deeds. Based on the volume of their
deeds they will be sent to Paradise for everlasting happiness or sent to Hell for
undergoing punishment eternally.
Thus, the present short
life is a test which decides our future and eternal abode. Every one of us is
given different situations and tested. For example, some are born blind, some
with good facilities, some as poor, some as rich, some in a hut and some in a
luxurious mansion etc. Our body, wealth, health, relatives and similar other
possessions are temporarily given to us as a trust for a certain unknown
period. We are not their real owners. The real
owner is God Almighty and He has the right to
withdraw them at any point of time. Whatever may be our level of attachment to
these possessions, we must be ready to part with them whenever He desires.
Indeed, He may suddenly withdraw them by way of His putting us to the test.
In the Qurán, God says:
“And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a
loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, who,
when disaster strikes them, say, ‘Indeed we belong to Allah and, indeed, to Him
we will return.’ Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and
mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided.” (Qurán 2: 155-157)
Prophet Abraham had
undergone the highest forms of such tests. To understand the gravity of the
same, just imagine yourself in his place! What would be your reaction if you get such an order from God? Or how would you feel if someone snatches your kid
and runs away with him/ her? Or at the sudden death of your mother? You would
scarcely bear it, right? But here,
Abraham comes forward to slaughter his own son by his own hand! What a
sacrifice! What an exemplary act of total obedience to the Creator! It is only
normal that in most cases, love, attachments and emotions over-rule human
behavior. But Abraham showed mankind that obedience to our Master should come
before all other considerations.
Every year, on the
occasion of Bakrid, we are reminded of this great lesson. As a small act of
sacrifice we are asked by God, in keeping with one’s financial condition, to
slaughter an animal on this day. The meat of the slain animal is shared with
relatives and the poor in society. Here again, our preparedness to sacrifice
for our Creator and Sustainer is being tested as He says in the Qurán:
“Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but
what reaches Him is piety from you…” (Qurán 22: 37)
Some Doubts and
Clarifications
Q: Why should the sacrifice be repeated every year and
everywhere? Is not the taking of a life a sin?
A:
The word ‘Islam’ means ‘obedience to
God’ and ‘Muslim’ means ‘one who is
obedient to God.’ The present life is a test in which this obedience of man is
tested. Those who pass this test will enter paradise and those who fail in this
test will enter hell in the Hereafter. So we have to obey our Creator’s
commandments in this world if we are serious about achieving salvation. We have
to do whatever our Master has commanded and we have to keep away from deeds
which He has prohibited.
The main reason for our
sacrificing an animal is the command of the Creator – both ours and the animals
- to do so. Here if we perform it we are committing a good deed and if we do
not we are committing a sin. The intention behind the act of sacrifice lies in
the test of man’s piety as mentioned in the verse quoted above (22:37). This
act will enhance the spirit of sacrifice in us and prepare us to bear sudden
losses in life, property etc. Sacrificing animals is not a new practice but has
been ordained by God through His messengers and
Books sent earlier to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as told in the Qurán:
“And for every nation have We appointed a ritual, that they
may mention the name of Allah over the beast of cattle that He hath given them
for food; and your God is one God, therefore surrender unto Him. And give good
tidings (O Muhammad) to the humble.” (Qurán 22: 34)
Q: Is not the taking of a life a sin?
A: The following points may clear the doubt:
1. Which act is a sin? And
which is not? Human beings or any group of human beings cannot decide for
themselves as to what does, and does not, constitute a sin since they do not
possess the ultimate knowledge of everything. Even if they decide what and what
not are sins, their decisions will be influenced by emotions, selfishness, etc.
Something good for someone might be bad for others. Something which appears
just for someone may be unjust according to others. Whereas God Almighty to
whom belongs the universe and all that it contains, is Omnipotent and Omniscient. He knows ultimately
what is good and what is bad for His creations. He is the Designer, Planner,
Sustainer and Master of the universe. He only knows the ultimate purpose and
role of each and every creation in this vast Universe. His knowledge is the
most perfect and ultimate. He is the highest Authority to say which is right
and wrong or which is just and unjust. Further, He is going to judge our deeds
on the Day of Judgment. We have to admit that Whatever He commands us to do are
good deeds and whatever He prohibits us from are bad deeds.
2. The present short and
temporary life which we are all undergoing is a test conducted by our Creator.
Here we are tested amidst emotions, feelings, hunger, sorrow, happiness,
justice, injustice, right, wrong… and so on. The test is whether we are
following God’s commandments in all the circumstances we come across in our
life time. If we follow Him we are rewarded with Paradise in the hereafter and
if we do not follow Him we will be punished with Hell fire. So it is wise to accept the standards set by Him
as the criterion to decide between right and wrong.
3. God Almighty has
revealed to us what is good and what is bad through His Messengers (Rishis)
and the Holy books (Vedas) sent through them from time to time. All His Holy
Books prohibit killing of life unjustly. The last and final version of His holy
books is the Qur’an which say this: “Do
not take life, which Allah has made holy except for just (and true) cause...”
(Qur’an 17:33). But killing of
animals for the sake of food is allowed in all His Holy Books.
4.
Manusmriti, which is considered a
holy book by Hindu brethren says: “The
diner, if he is a meat consumer, the meat does not harm him, even if he
consumes every day. Because it is God who has created some creatures for eating and some as food.”
(Manusmriti 5:30)
“Consuming meat is also considered as
sacrifice. This is known traditionally as Commandment of God.” (Manusmriti 5:31)
“God has created certain cattle for sacrifice.
So slaughtering cattle for sacrificing will not be considered as killing of the
cattle. (Manusmriti 5: 39, 4)
Plenty of such references are found in other
Hindu Holy scriptures. A few are given below.
Rig Veda: (VIII 42. 1), (X 91.
14.6), (1. 114.101), (5. 29-7), Adarva
Veda (X.11. 1.48)
5. However big or small,
visible or invisible the forms of life, all are to be treated alike. Elephant,
cow cat, flies, birds, mosquito, bacteria, germs and so on... All of them carry
life. To protect only the big and visible ones and to ignore the small and
invisible ones is not an act of justice. We have to equally feel pain when we
drink as each drop of water contains millions of bacteria. Lakhs of silk worms
are killed for the silk industry.
Can we stop all this?
6. Today, it has been
scientifically proved that plants are living beings which see, hear and smell.
They even have emotions. If we conclude that killing of life is sin, where can
we go for food?
7. In nature, God has
created, distributed and perfected every creation in the right proportion. The
Qurán says:
“Exalt the name of your Lord, the Most High,
Who created and proportioned; And who destined and [then] guided.” (Qurán 87:
1–3)
Manu says, “The law of nature is that the
stronger living beings eat the weaker ones. So it is natural to eat meat.”
“God has created moving and unmoving creatures
for the purpose of food. Unmoving living beings form the food for moving ones.
Toothless creatures are food for the toothed ones. Armless beings are food for
the armed ones. Innocent creatures are food for cruel ones.” (Manusmriti V.15)
8. Tempted by our emotions and shortsightedness
if we tamper or disturb the ecological balance set by our omniscient Creator,
the consequences will be extremely disastrous. Let’s see a few examples:
a. If the rapid growth of
population of rats is not curtailed by snakes and reptiles which feed on them,
it will lead to drastic scarcity of food grains and spread of epidemic
diseases.
b. If deers in jungles were
not hunted down by wild animals which feed on them, with the unchecked growth
of their population, the plants and trees will be consumed rapidly by them.
Thus, the jungles will vanish which leads, in turn, to loss of rain.
c. A minimum of 3, 84, 000
animals are slaughtered all over the world every day. If the slaughtering is
suspended for one month the number of animals for which we have to feed will be
1, 15, 20, 000. The food requirement for them will be 34, 50, 00, 000 Kilograms
per month. In the process of meeting this demand for food, the existing
foodgrains, plants and trees will vanish fast. This further stops the rain and
the whole earth will become a desert within sixmonths.
9. By stopping the killing
of animals for food, can we afford to lose the following?
a. In beef export, India occupies
eighth place in the world.
b. By export of leather,
foreign exchange earned is Rs. 3, 160 crores and the number of people employed
in this industry is 13.5
lakhs.
c. By export of fish and
fish products, exchange earned is Rs. 6, 308 crores.
d. In silk production, India occupies
third place. A lakh of people are employed in this industry. The benefits as
well as job opportunities that arise out of such industries are too numerous to
be ignored. Further, can we really forego by-products like belts, shoes, bags,
purses, detergents, animal feed, pharmaceuticals, tar, heart valves, insulin,
pepsin, surgical sutures, medical capsules, glue, fertilizers and so on?
10. The vitamins
(particularly B12) proteins, minerals and other nutrients required for
efficient function and stamina of human body are very meager in vegetarian
food. Manual workers, farmers and others who exert physically cannot work long
hours if they only take vegetarian food.
11. The human body is so
designed by God that it can consume and digest meat. Like herbivorous animals,
man is equipped with flat teeth, and like carnivorous animals he also has
canine teeth. Our digestive system is also equipped to digest meat.
Those who find faults
with the ecological order set by the ultimate wisdom of the Creator and tamper
with it are warned by the Creator thus:
“Do no mischief on earth, after it has been set in order…”
(Qurán 7: 56)
“… and those who cause mischief in the land, upon them is
curse and a evil home (i. e. Hell) is for them.” (Qurán 13: 25)
The Creator and Master
of this universe also warns those who ban things which are made lawful by
Him:
“And do not say about what your tongues assert of untruth, ‘This is
lawful and this is unlawful,’ to invent falsehood about Allah. Indeed, those
who invent falsehood about Allah will not succeed. [It is but] a brief enjoyment, and they will have a painful
punishment.” (Qurán 16: 116, 117)
On this great occasion
let us all come together to understand and practice the real message of Bakrid,
that is sacrifice, patience and obedience to our Creator.
[1] Allah
is not the personal god of Muslims or an
Arabian tribal god as widely misunderstood. In Arabic language it is the proper
name of God Almighty, who is the Creator
and Sustainer of the Universe.
