Eid-ul-Azha is one of the biggest festivals for Muslims around the world. It is a time of celebration; of families getting together to enjoy the holidays. The feasts prepared for Eid-ul-Azha, or Qurbani Eid, as it is commonly known, is focused on meat eating. It is clearly not a holiday vegans would be excited to celebrate, that’s for sure.
The main activity during this holiday is the act of sacrificing animals (mainly cows and goats), an act which holds religious significance. However, while the holidays are for all to enjoy there is a certain segment of people who feel rather queasy about the whole animal sacrifice aspect.
Particularly, having to witness so many animals go to their death and the endless bloodshed leaves animal lovers like me feeling heartbroken. The point of this holiday is to spread happiness. However, those with an all-consuming love for animals can’t stomach all the blood and gore and end up feeling blue.
Eid-ul-Azha teaches us the value of sacrifice and devotion to the almighty. In essence, we must part with our beloved animals in order to prove our faith in Allah. But nowadays, many have moved away from the agrarian lifestyles of our ancestors. Now it’s about who can buy the most expensive cow or goat from the market as a way of cementing social status.
As a child, I remember everyone being excited and calling me right before the cow or a goat would be slaughtered. I wonder why we think the wholesale slaughter of some poor animals should be a spectator sport. Just doesn’t make sense to people who can empathize with the pain of all living creatures.
One Eid, my little sister and I made the grave mistake of naming the goats that my family had bought. The hole that Oreo and Sirius Black left in our hearts is yet to be filled. We were absolutely devastated when they were taken away to be sacrificed.
I definitely do not mean to harm anyone’s religious sentiments. However, I want everyone to realize that some people find it difficult to see animals in any kind of pain or even be killed. Perhaps you will call me a hypocrite, as I am still meat-eater after all. But I just want everyone to treat all animals with love and try to empathize with their pain. After all, our sacrifice during Eid-ul-Azha does cost them their lives.
