INDIAN MUSLIMS PERFORM RELIGIOUS UDHIYAH DURING HOLY FEAST
Mumbai, 25 Dzulqa’dah 1436/9 September 2015 (MINA) – Rejecting the beef ban as discriminatory, a leading Indian Muslim league is approaching the High Court to relax the ban during the days of Eid Al-Adha, hoping it will allow Muslims to perform the religious duty of udhiyah during the holy feast.
“Sacrificing animals during Bakri (Eid Al-Adha) is our religious duty and we want the court to heed our pleas as our religious sentiments are involved,” Mumbai president of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) Parvez Lakdawala told the Times of India on Tuesday, September 8.
The IUML leader said that Muslims couldn’t afford the high prices of goats as sacrificial animals, announcing that a petition will be filed on Wednesday, (08/09), September 9.
The petition was also backed by the Lok Sabha member E Ahmed, who co-wrote a letter on the issue to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis with IUML national president, OnIslam quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).
Demanding lifting the ban during Eid, Lakdawala cited a ban on meal sale that was imposed in Mumbai for eight days during the Jain festival of Paryushan.
Meanwhile, Majlis-e-Ittihadul Muslameen legislator, advocate Waris Pathan, and its state unit president, Syed Moin, have called for installing temporary slaughter houses for three days during Eid Al-Adha.
“The government should issue a notification allowing setting up of temporary slaughter houses during Bakri Eid,” said Pathan.
Eid Al-Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice is one of the two most important Islamic celebrations, together with Eid Al-Fitr.
Eid Al-Adha marks the end of annual hajj.
After special prayers to mark the day, Muslims offer Udhiyah, a ritual that reminds of the great act of sacrifice Prophet Ibrahim and his son Isma`eel were willing to make for the sake of God.
A financially-able Muslim sacrifices a single sheep or goat or shares with six others in sacrificing a camel or cow as an act of worship during the four-day Eid Al-Adha celebrations.
The ritual commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail to Allah as an act of obedience and submission.
The Udhiyah meat is divided in three equal parts, one each for one’s own family, friends and the poor. (T/Imt/R04)
Mi’raj Islmic News Agency (MINA)
