Photo: https://www.instagram.com/anousheyashraf/
KARACHI: Eid-ul-Adha is just around the corner and as everyone prepares for an SOP-oriented Eid in full swing, there are perhaps only some avenues urging everyone to stay humane and considerate about the animals they are about to sacrifice. Recently, Anoushey Ashraf took to her Instagram to do what she does best: speak up for a cause, this one being her insistence on humane treatment of sacrificial animals for Eid.
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Sharing a heartwarming picture of herself with a goat, she wrote, “Closing in on that time of the year where I always reach out to those on my Instagram urging them to care, respect and love their animal of sacrifice to the absolute fullest. A few things; Please make sure to remember it’s a ‘sacrifice’ NOT ‘slaughter’ and it takes place in the most humane way possible.”
There is no doubt that animal sacrifice has become a show of status and power when the actual concept of sacrifice is supposed to be heartbreaking, even if the event itself may be celebratory. The celebration element often supersedes the sacrifice and crowds gather around a dying animal, bleeding to death cheering, and enjoying when the sunnah encourages anyone engaging in the sacrifice to remain as kind to the animal as possible.
“Don’t make children run the blade on the animal, please. The qasai should be a thorough professional, if the animal experiences discomfort, pain, and severe distress you’re doing it wrong. There are gentle manuals on it. The knives should be so sharp that the animal shouldn’t feel any pain. Don’t sacrifice one animal in front of the other. It induces severe anxiety in them. DO NOT make videos and photos of the process. They’re NOT for a show, this occasion isn’t a show. Try and feel the pain of an innocent life lost,” she added.
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Anoushey Ashraf also urged people to educate one another on the rights of animals that are brought home for Eid. “Stop another and teach them the rights of animals too if you see their animals in bad shape, underfed, hot, tied to short ropes so they can’t sit/move, etc. Cry when they go, pray for their sacrifice and feel the pain of loss. Do not exhibit, compare and spend extravagant amounts of money to please Allah. He knows your neeyat better than anyone. Be gentle with the animals, be kind. Love him. Clean up thoroughly after it’s done. Stop storing meat for yourselves, give and distribute the best of it first. Eat less meat through the rest of the year, please. It’s become a cruel industry and the spirit of being thankful is lost.”
Quoting Imam Ali A.S, Ashraf said, “Do not make your stomach a graveyard for animals.” Eid should not be about satisfying our greed, but cleansing our soul – a sentiment mirrored by Anoushey Ashraf in the following words, “Reflect on the meaning of sacrifice. Be humble about it. May Allah accept our sacrifices this year. The greatest nations are those that are kind to their animals. Many of them are our food, they fill our hungry bellies. They’re a big blessing. They provide nourishment to us. We have to respect them. We have to be thankful to them. Thank you, Allah, for the food you provide us. Thank you. And thank you to the countless animals who feed our greed.”
