By Syed Akbar
Bakrid or Id-ul-Adha is not just a festival of ritual sacrifice. It is a festival of charity too. Like the other grand Muslim festival of Alms-giving or Id-ul-Fitr, Bakrid brings cheers to millions of poor people living across the globe and pours in charity enough for several orphanages and madarasas to fend themselves for a few months.
The tradition of sacrifice dates back to the grand prophet, Hazrat Ibrahim (peace be upon him), known to Jews and Christians as Abraham. The meat of sacrificial animals is divided into three parts. One part is distributed among friends and relatives, the second part is meant for the poor and needy and the third portion is for self consumption.
It has been a tradition among Muslims right from the times of the Holy Prophet, Hazrat Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be upon him) to donate the skin of the sacrificial animal. The skin or the proceeds from its sale is to be donated to orphanages, madarasas or charitable organizations so that they could get enough funds from the donation.
According to a rough estimate, over five million animal skins are distributed during the Bakrid festival in India alone. The largest donation in the form of skin comes from Mumbai, followed by Hyderabad by virtue of their large Muslim population. In Andhra Pradesh alone skins worth Rs 30 crore are donated among charitable institutions. If the value of the meat portion distributed among the poor and needy is calculated, it simply runs to Rs 400 crore. This figure for the whole of India means a few thousand crores.
According to Muhammad Saleem, former AP Wakf Board chairman and vice-president of All-India Jamiat-ul-Quraish, about 20 lakh sheep and buffaloes are sacrificed on Bakrid and the succeeding two days.
“The idea behind celebrating Islamic festivals is not just to rejoice but to remember the pangs and troubles of the have-nots. God Almighty has given so much to us and it is our duty to remember the unfortunate ones at least on the Id days. Besides the skin of animals, one-third of the meat is also distributed among the poor. Mosques are not qualified to receive the donation of skins or the sale proceeds from them. Because festivals are for people and the poor have a greater right over the charity,” observes Moulana Hafiz Syed Shujath Hussain.
Besides individual sacrifices of animals, sacrifice is also institutionalized in Hyderabad and other parts of the country. Several charitable and Zakat organizations have been collecting the cost of the animal for sacrifice from those who cannot do the same on their own. The facility is being largely utilized by non-resident Indian Muslims, particularly those living in the West.
The Hyderabad Zakat and Charitable Trust is collecting Rs 2400 per sheep for sacrifice on Bakrid. There is also a provision for distribution of the entire meat among the poor, in case the person is an NRI.
Moulana Shaik Najeeb Ahmad says the sacrifice of animals on the Bakrid is more than just a ritual. The Almighty tests the person sacrificing the animal whether it is being done with pure intentions or as a show or pomp. “The Almighty makes it clear in the Holy Quran that neither the blood nor the flesh of sacrificial animals reach Him. It is the piety and pure intentions and the spirit behind the sacrifice that counts with the Almighty. By sacrificing animals Muslims are not only expressing their piety towards the Creator but also helping the have-nots to get charity, though in the form of meat. It is indeed a great celebration for the poor who do not have access to rich nutritional food. At least once a year they do get the opportunity,” Moulana Najeeb points out.
On an average each madarasa gets around Rs 30,000 from the sale proceeds of skins of sacrificial animals and this fund keeps them running for a couple of months. The Zakat collections during Ramadhan is, however, greater than the donations they receive during Bakrid. Some madarasas and charitable institutions manage one whole year from the Zakat donations.
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