The scenes of animal sacrifice become truly gruesome all over the country on this occasion, which is NOT actually one of the mandates or pillars of Islam. When Islam was born, animal sacrifice was only practiced to remind humanity about the sacrifice Prophet Abraham was about to make by killing his son in the name of God. It was never a rule or a requirement.
Another reason behind this practice is to show to God that we are sacrificing or letting go something we love, we are attached to, we care about for God' sake. It makes me wonder each time I witness carnage in Turkey, this time of the year. People in the country sacrifice more than one animal, just buy them and cut them. Do they really get attached to them, do they really love them or do they simply go through the motions of murdering God's other creatures?
One last purpose of this festivity is to feed the poor with the sacrificed meat because this may be the only time in the year, they get to eat protein. Valid point. But how much of that meat really reaches the poor and the hungry, I really question.
I have visited other countries with large Muslim populations during Eid ul Adha, such as Egypt and Bangladesh. I haven't seen the murder and carnage I witnessed in Turkey all my life. Moreover, it is considered a sin to sacrifice, ever kill or eat female animals and animals below a certain age even in countries like Bangladesh, which is one of the poorest countries in the world and has suffered her share of famine crises in the past. In Turkey, there is no such belief. All animals, be it female or a baby are sacrificed and eaten!
This year a scandal regarding the death of Turkish animal industry erupted. It was realised that there is no animal left in the country! This is not a joke, this is a reality. Turkey used to be a country taking pride in its farming and animal industry. It no longer can be so. Now Turkey imports its animals from Europe and Australia, especially for sacrifice during Kurban Bayrami!
The Head of the State Office of Religious Affairs recommended a couple of weeks ago that due to the shortage of animals in the country, no animal should be sacrificed during Eid ul Adha. Two days later, he was warned by government officials and had to retract his recommendation because the country had already committed to paying Australia to export their animals to Turkey for the special occasion!
The same official also only "advised" that female animals should not be sacrificed. He only advised. Why doesn't he simply state that it is sinful to sacrifice female animals?
Shame on anyone who sacrifice the animals just to go through the motion, who do not share the meat with the poor, who kill the females and the babies and who do not get attached to or love these beautiful creatures!
How about sacrificing something else you really care about for God's love, such as donating your second home, second car, your spare time, your love for the needy, poor and hungry?
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