Please sacrifice for the sake of Sidr-affected families

KAJOL ISLAM / DRIK NEWS

ON November 15, several million people in our southern coastal areas, in at least seven districts, faced the Cyclone Sidr, which caused huge damage to human lives, livestock, poultry, trees, houses, and it destroyed the livelihood sources of people. We do not yet know how long it will take for the people to recover from such damage of the disaster. Although lots of relief and recovery efforts are taken up by government, non-government organisations, individuals, and different social organisations, all these are simply not enough to cover the losses.
Before Sidr, other parts of Bangladesh covering over 39 districts in north and middle part of the flood-plain areas were affected by two consecutive floods. The loss to crops was huge in this case. The loss of livestock is also huge. It is learnt that over 523,723 animals perished, which included cows, goats, buffaloes, etc. in Sidr alone.
For Bangladeshi rural families the losses in terms of human lives, crops and other assets of the houses are important, but the losses of cows, goats, hens, and ducks they were raising in their households more important as they are part of their family as well as sources of livelihood.
Any loss to cows, goats, hens, or ducks are not only an economic loss -- and may lead to more misery of the family. Also the total loss of cows in the village affects the agricultural activities. Cultivation becomes difficult for poorer farming families. They need the cow dung as well as manure.
We have heard many stories of how family members did not want to go to the cyclone shelters even after hearing the warning signals because they could not take their cows, goats, hens, and ducks along with them. There are no shelters for livestock and poultry.
A story which touched me so much was that when a family was finally forced to leave the house, they decided to untie the cow in the cow-shed and let it go on its own so that it could save itself. The cow looked behind and saw the family members were crying. The cow came back with tears in its eyes and sat in the middle of the house -- as if saying to everybody: "I will not leave you."
It is beyond comprehension of many people who do not have such relation with animals -- who are part of their livelihood as well as loving members of the family. Women were always criticised even in earlier cyclones, because they do not want to leave behind the cows and goats to save their own lives.
Now in this situation, Eid-ul-Azha has come. Eid-ul-Azha also known as Eid al-Kurban or Eid al-Nahr is one of the two main Muslim religious festivals. In Bangladesh, it is popularly known as Kurbanir Eid or Bakra Eid.
The significance of Eid-ul-Azha is in following the sacrifice of Hazrat Ibrahim (A), who had been asked by Almighty Allah to sacrifice his dearest son Hazrat Ismail (A). Knowing that it was the wish of Allah, Hazrat Ismail willingly consented to his father Hazrat Ibrahim (A) to arrange everything to implement Allah's order. Hazrat Ibrahim took his son at a place called Mina near Makka in solar year 3,800. Allah was satisfied by Hazrat Ibrahim's sincere intent and ordered him to sacrifice an animal in place of his son. This is the well known and common story we all know about Eid-ul-Azha.
Eid-ul-Azha is observed on the 10th of Jhu-l-Hijjah and on this day, Muslims who perform the Hajj sacrifice animals on the field of Mina. Kurbani or sacrifice of animals by following the example of sacrifice by Hazrat Ibrahim (A) at Mina is wadib or obligatory (according to many, sunna Muaqqada) for not only those Muslims who perform Hajj but also for all solvent Muslims of the world.
However, it should be acknowledged that Eid-ul-Azha is not just about sacrificing animals. Eid-ul-Azha very clearly symbolises highest loyalty and submission to Allah. Both Hazrat Ibrahim (A) and Hazrat Ismail (A) showed their respective loyalty to Allah -- and that is the meaning of the sacrifice -- Hazrat Ibrahim to slaughter his dearest son, Hazrat Ismail to help his father carry out the order of Allah. One must remember the deep significance in such relationship between Allah and his prophet.
Now we celebrate Eid-ul-Azha, and animal sacrifice in the name of Allah has become a major feature of this Eid. It has got very clear social responsibility of the solvent people towards the poorer people in the community. One-third of the meat of the sacrificed animal is kept for the owner, one third is given to his/her relatives, and the rest is distributed among the poor. This is a reminder to the rich or solvent people to discharge responsibility to the poor. From the sacrifice and through the distribution of sacrificial meat to the poor and distressed, one gets a spiritual satisfaction and pleasure, which obtains a socially festive character.
In reality, what do we find? Before Eid we hear no real plans for distribution of the meat to the poor. It is taken for granted that some beggers will come to the gates of the rich and middle class people, and small packets of meat will be given to them. That's all. They are often given the meat which is not from the best parts of the cow. The best parts are kept for self consumption, to prepare kabab, bhuna meat, etc. There are recipes given in the newspapers for different delicious preparations of meat. Gaudy advertisements for refrigerators are given in the newspapers so that meat can be preserved for longer time. So where is the sacrifice here? Are we not depriving the poor of their due share?
In Eid-ul-Azha, the size of the cow sacrificed becomes a status symbol and show of wealth. Sacrifice of cows was also done during Eid in prior years as election campaign. This year, however, it is observed that wealthy people are nervous of displaying their wealth because they are afraid of being suspected of corruption.
This year we have a real disaster situation. So I would like to appeal to the solvent people of our country who are preparing for Eid-ul-Azha. The sacrifice of the animal, whether it is cow or goat can be done in two ways. The first proposal is to distribute the animal to a poor family so that they can raise them and the second proposal is to distribute the meat of the sacrificed animal, particularly goat, to the people in the Sidr-affected area.
Can we consider not sacrificing cows? We can sacrifice cows to the poor families. Cows are very important for agriculture. It will take longer time to make up the loss of the cows. If we can re-allocate the cows from the solvent families to the poorer families, it will make a real difference in the lives of the poor.
There are already many instances where people have taken such initiatives. Can we make the appeal to everyone planning to sacrifice cows? It could transfer at least a million cows to the poor who have lost them, and that will be a great support to the cyclone and flood affected people of the country.

Farida Akhter is Executive Director, Ubinig.