During Bakrid, which falls on October 16 this year, the Muslims are enjoined to offer sacrifice of a sheep. This edict is applicable to only those who can afford to buy a sheep or other cattle with their income which is free from the burden of debt.
The tradition of sacrifice goes back to the times of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham).Prompted by God through recurring dreams,Ibrahim decides to offer his beloved young son Ismael in sacrifice. Even as Ibrahim, who blindfolds himself not to see the blood of his son,is about to put the knife on Ismaels throat God sends down archangel Jibrael or Gabriel and has the boy replaced with a ram. God is pleased with Ibrahim for his readiness to sacrifice the most loved part of his life to Him. It is this tradition that the Muslims all over the world follow.
One of the points to be noted here is that God replaced Ismael with a ram or a sheep, not any other cattle when he was offered for sacrifice by his father. Therefore, offering of a sheep in sacrifice is traditionally preferred. But later traditions have allowed sacrifice of other big animals such as camel, buffalo,oxen or cow which, being bigger in size, is considered equal to seven sheep.
The meat of the sheep is to be divided into three equal parts, of which one is distributed among the poor, the other among the neighbours, family members and friends and the last one is to be retained by the person who makes the sacrifice. Not only is the meat distributed,but also the sheep skin, which is traditionally given to the managements of Madrassas or religious seminaries. The money accrued from the sale of sheep skin is one of the most important sources of funding for madrassas, which essentially operate on charity.
A recent meeting of the leading Ulema or religious scholars and eminent Muslims held in Humayun Nagar urged the community not to offer cows in sacrifice as a mark of respect to the religious senti-ments of the Hindus. Mohammed Abdur Rahim Quraishi,assistant secretary general of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, said in a statement that offering sacrifice was not mandatory for the poor. The Muslims should show regard towards the religious feelings of other communities and abstain from offering cows for sacrifice.
In a similar statement, Syed Afzal Biyabani, chairman of state Wakf Board, said when a person is looking for a big animal in the market, he has several options. He should avoid buying a cow to display his sincerity towards the religious feelings of Hindu brethren.
Meanwhile, reports are pouring in of trucks bringing in animals to the city being intercepted by right-wing activists. Seizing the cattle, the interceptors are allegedly beating up drivers and other occupants of the vehicles. There are allegations that the police, instead of stopping the activists from taking law into their hands, are abetting the incidents by inaction.Under the pretext of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1961, the police have reportedly allowed members of certain organizations to work as special police. The special police,which remains almost inactive during the entire year, wakes up a little before Bakrid and behaves like official goons.
A leading lawyer,Shafeeq Rahman Mahjir, has this to say: It is important to note that it is not open to the police to delegate their powers to anyone. It is dangerous to delegate powers to persons connected with political ideologies hostile to some groups. In doing this, the police are playing into the hands of communal elements who exploit the situation to fan the flames of polarization and conflagrations.
Police have enough numbers to control any volatile situation and can ask for more if needed. To defuse the tension building up around the forthcoming Bakrid, the police should first withdraw the licences given to the special police and restrain organizations from getting involved in policing. At the same the police are free to counsel and taken actions against all those traders, contractors and people who violate the law.
(Source-toi)
The tradition of sacrifice goes back to the times of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham).Prompted by God through recurring dreams,Ibrahim decides to offer his beloved young son Ismael in sacrifice. Even as Ibrahim, who blindfolds himself not to see the blood of his son,is about to put the knife on Ismaels throat God sends down archangel Jibrael or Gabriel and has the boy replaced with a ram. God is pleased with Ibrahim for his readiness to sacrifice the most loved part of his life to Him. It is this tradition that the Muslims all over the world follow.
One of the points to be noted here is that God replaced Ismael with a ram or a sheep, not any other cattle when he was offered for sacrifice by his father. Therefore, offering of a sheep in sacrifice is traditionally preferred. But later traditions have allowed sacrifice of other big animals such as camel, buffalo,oxen or cow which, being bigger in size, is considered equal to seven sheep.
The meat of the sheep is to be divided into three equal parts, of which one is distributed among the poor, the other among the neighbours, family members and friends and the last one is to be retained by the person who makes the sacrifice. Not only is the meat distributed,but also the sheep skin, which is traditionally given to the managements of Madrassas or religious seminaries. The money accrued from the sale of sheep skin is one of the most important sources of funding for madrassas, which essentially operate on charity.
A recent meeting of the leading Ulema or religious scholars and eminent Muslims held in Humayun Nagar urged the community not to offer cows in sacrifice as a mark of respect to the religious senti-ments of the Hindus. Mohammed Abdur Rahim Quraishi,assistant secretary general of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, said in a statement that offering sacrifice was not mandatory for the poor. The Muslims should show regard towards the religious feelings of other communities and abstain from offering cows for sacrifice.
In a similar statement, Syed Afzal Biyabani, chairman of state Wakf Board, said when a person is looking for a big animal in the market, he has several options. He should avoid buying a cow to display his sincerity towards the religious feelings of Hindu brethren.
Meanwhile, reports are pouring in of trucks bringing in animals to the city being intercepted by right-wing activists. Seizing the cattle, the interceptors are allegedly beating up drivers and other occupants of the vehicles. There are allegations that the police, instead of stopping the activists from taking law into their hands, are abetting the incidents by inaction.Under the pretext of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1961, the police have reportedly allowed members of certain organizations to work as special police. The special police,which remains almost inactive during the entire year, wakes up a little before Bakrid and behaves like official goons.
A leading lawyer,Shafeeq Rahman Mahjir, has this to say: It is important to note that it is not open to the police to delegate their powers to anyone. It is dangerous to delegate powers to persons connected with political ideologies hostile to some groups. In doing this, the police are playing into the hands of communal elements who exploit the situation to fan the flames of polarization and conflagrations.
Police have enough numbers to control any volatile situation and can ask for more if needed. To defuse the tension building up around the forthcoming Bakrid, the police should first withdraw the licences given to the special police and restrain organizations from getting involved in policing. At the same the police are free to counsel and taken actions against all those traders, contractors and people who violate the law.
(Source-toi)
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