Sacrifice: Another Story – by Suleman Akhtar
Ghareeb-o-sada-o-rangeen hai daastan-e-Haram
Nihayat iss ki Hussain, Ibtada hai Ismail – Iqbal
(Vague translation: History of Haram is simple, wretched and bloodstained. While the terminus is Hussain, the outset is Ismail)
Sacrifice is among the most tempting of human attributes and most beautiful of words collective human consciousness has ever developed in lexicon. At its lowest, sacrifice translates into giving away one’s own possessions and at its paramount the most precious of human asset turns up insignificant. The characters of history deemed as venerable and esteemed were largely those who relinquished their comforts for the sake of collective good of humankind and didn’t even cherish their lives in the lanes of devotion. Sacrifice is more of a dedication than a ritual.
As for the dark era of primitive human cultures, the idea of sacrifice was lined with the feelings of fear, repudiation and intimidation. According to Walter Burkert, a scholar on sacrifice, Greek sacrifices derived from hunting practices. Hunters, feeling guilty for having killed another living being so they could eat and survive, tried to repudiate their responsibility in these rituals. That in the succeeding times led to the Human Sacrifice. Human sacrifice has been practiced on a number of different occasions and in many different cultures. The various rationales behind human sacrifice are the same that motivate religious sacrifice in general. Human sacrifice is intended to bring good fortune and to pacify the gods. Human sacrifice can also have the intention of winning the gods’ favor in warfare. In Homeric legend, Iphigeneia was to be sacrificed by her father Agamemnon for success in Trojan War.
As with the evolution of human consciousness, with the associated developments in religion (the Axial Age), human sacrifice was becoming less common throughout the Old World, and came to be widely looked down upon as barbaric already in pre-modern times (Classical Antiquity). The narration of Prophet Abraham and Ismail is an example explaining the abolition of human sacrifice. Quran further consolidates the abolition as:
“Lost are those who slay their children, from folly, without knowledge, and forbid food which Allah hath provided for them, inventing (lies) against Allah. They have indeed gone astray and heeded no guidance.” (Quran 6:140)
The decree was against then prevalent ritual of human sacrifice betokening that that is not blood and flesh God asks from humanity and that that is not ritual dear to God, but the devotedness and love of the humanity for the humanity that is essence of sacrifice. That was not Ismail (A.S) or the ram for that matter called for by God but allegiance of Ibrahim (A.S). This is not the ritual but the message that must be apprehended. As God Himself speaks:
“Their flesh and their blood reach not Allah, but the devotion from you reacheth Him.” (Quran 22:37)
Many instances can be found in Islamic history when prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his companions upheld the actual spirit of sacrifice while laying aside the ritualistic displays. One of these instances is associated with the sacrifice that has not been surpassed even after fourteen centuries – the sacrifice of grandson of Prophet (PBUH) Hussain ibne Ali (A.S). While in Mecca, Husain ibn Ali realized a deep conspiracy that Yazid had appointed `Amr ibn Sa`ad ibn al As as the head of an army, ordering him to take charge of the pilgrimage caravans and to kill Husain ibn Ali (A.S) wherever he could find him during Hajj. Hence he decided to leave Mecca for Karbala on 08th Dhu al-Hijjah 60 AH (12 September 680 AD). Hussain (A.S) left the state of consecration (broke Ahraam) just a day before Hajj and was contented with Umrah, due to his concern about potential violation of the sanctity of the Kaaba. The decision upheld the actual message of sacrifice over the ritual. On his departure, he delivered that historic speech that encompasses pith of spirit of sacrifice.
“All praise is due to Allah, The Will of Allah be done. There is no might except in Allah, Allah has blessed His Messenger. Death is inscribed on Adam’s children like a necklace on a girl’s neck. My passion to be reunited with my ancestors is like that of Jacob for Joseph, and the demise I shall soon meet is better for me. I see my limbs being torn by speeding steeds in the desert between al-Nawawis and Karbala’, so they shall fill, through my death, hollow bellies and starved pouches. There is no avoiding a day recorded by the Pen. Whatever pleases Allah also pleases us, we Ahl al-Bayt. We shall be patient as we face His trial, and He shall give us in full the rewards due to those who persevere..”
Present era lined with social and economic upheaval, drastic turmoil and ravaging natural calamities necessitates revitalization of that spirit of sacrifice that is independent of extravagancy, ostentation and ritualistic displays. Intentions may or may not be pure, but at the end of the day the ritual of animal sacrifice is turning more and more pretentious with each passing day given the prevalent social trends. There’s much distress in society that may be taken care of to some extent by succoring the flood effectees, Internally Displaced Persons, terrorism victims and destitute ones in dire need; the act that corresponds more to the spirit of sacrifice than its appearance envisaged by the ritual of animal sacrifice. Slaughtering doesn’t necessarily correspond to sacrifice and blood is not always part of the equation. And as far as the acceptance of God is concerned, He knows what in the hearts and He surely is the best knower.
Thought provoking post!
لیکن خدا کو کیا ملا؟
وسعت اللہ خان
بی بی سی اردو ڈاٹ کام، کراچی
آخری وقت اشاعت: اتوار 6 نومبر 2011 ,
ہر سال اس دنیا کے مسلمان دس کروڑ سے زائد جانور عیدالضحی کے تین دنوں میں قربان کرتے ہیں۔
روایت کے مطابق جب چار ہزار برس قبل خدا نے یہ دیکھ لیا کہ ابراہیم کی نیّت میں کوئی کھوٹ نہیں اور بیٹا بھی باپ کے فرمان پر قربان ہونے کے لیے دل سے آمادہ ہے تو خدا نے اس امتحان میں باپ اور بیٹے کو کامیاب قرار دیتے ہوئے قربانی کی علامت کے طور پر ایک مینڈھا چھری تلے بھیج دیا۔
ہر سال اس دنیا کے مسلمان دس کروڑ سے زائد جانور عیدالضحی کے تین دنوں میں قربان کرتے ہیں۔ان میں سے لگ بھگ پچاس لاکھ مینڈھے، بکرے، بیل، گائے اور اونٹ وغیرہ پاکستان میں زبح کیے جاتے ہیں۔آج کے حساب سے ان جانوروں کی خریداری پر پاکستانی شہری کم ازکم ایک کھرب روپے خرچ کرتے ہیں۔ مزید پندرہ ارب روپے قربانی سے جڑے لازمی ذیلی اخراجات اور محصولات کی مد میں شمار کر لیجئے۔ مزید دس ارب روپے شاپنگ اور دیگر متفرقات کی مد میں جوڑ لیجئے۔ یوں صرف عید الضحی کے تین دنوں کی معیشت پاکستان میں سوا کھرب روپے کی گردش پیدا کرتی ہے۔
عید الضحی پر ہر ایک کو کچھ نا کچھ مل جاتا ہے۔ٹرانپسورٹرز کو جانور ڈھونے کا منہ مانگا کرایہ، چُنگی اور بکرا پیڑھی کی انتظامیہ کو اپنی مرضی کا ٹیکس، جانور کے مالک کو دُگنی تگنی قیمت، پانی اور چارہ فروخت کرنے والوں کو منہ مانگے دام، چھریاں تیز کرنے والے کو ہر دھار کے الگ پیسے، قصائی کو وی وی آئی پی سٹیٹس، سیاسی و مذہبی گروہوں کو تحکمانہ اپیل کے عوض کھالیں، کلاشنکوف برداروں کو مفت کے جانور اغوا کرنے کا نادر موقع، ڈیپ فریزر، کوئلے اور بار بی کیو کے چولہے اور خدمات فراہم کرنے والوں کو مرضی کے پیسے، پیشہ ور بھکاری گروہوں کو اوجھڑی، گوشت اور سری پائے، صاحبِ حیثیت کو بیس لاکھ کا بیل یا تین لاکھ کا اونٹ یا اسی ہزار روپے کا لحیم شحیم بکرا خریدنے پر رشک و تعریف کے ڈونگڑے، بچوں کو قربانی کے جانور سجانے اور گلیوں میں دوڑانے کی مصروفیت اور سفید پوش ہمسائیوں اور رشتے داروں کو ایک یا دو وقت کے لیے خالص گوشت نصیب ہو جاتا ہے۔
لیکن اس سارے کاروبارِ قربانی میں سے خدا کو کیا ملتا ہے ؟
قربانی کرنیوالوں سے خدا کیا چاہتا ہے؟
“وہ خدا جس نے بار بار سمجھانے کی کوشش کی کہ اسے صرف پرہیز گاروں کی قربانی ہی قبول ہے۔ وہ خدا جو کہتا ہے کہ اسے جانور کے گوشت یا خون کی نہیں بلکہ قربانی کرنے والے کے اخلاص کی ضرورت ہے”
وہ خدا جس نے بار بار سمجھانے کی کوشش کی کہ اسے صرف پرہیز گاروں کی قربانی ہی قبول ہے۔ وہ خدا جو کہتا ہے کہ اسے جانور کے گوشت یا خون کی نہیں بلکہ قربانی کرنے والے کے اخلاص کی ضرورت ہے۔ وہ خدا جو کہتا ہے کہ رمضان کی آخری دس راتیں اس تک پہنچنے کے لیے اہم ہیں اسی طرح ذی الحج کے پہلے دس دن کے اعمال بھی اس کی قربت کے لیے اتنے ہی اہم ہیں۔
وہ خدا جس کی خواہش ہے کہ چھری جانور کی گردن پر بعد میں اور لالچی نفس پر پہلے چلے۔ مگر اتنی تکرار کے بعد بھی خدا کے ہاتھ کیا آتا ہے، کتنا آتا ہے اور کہاں سے آتا ہے؟
روزِ حساب جب میرا پیش ہو دفترِ عمل
آپ بھی شرمسار ہو، مجھ کو بھی شرمسار کر
( اقبال)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/interactivity/2011/11/111106_baat_se_baat_sen.shtml
How eloquent, how powerful and how extraordinary … mashaallah
plight of the time is we ostentatiously display wealth ,health and sacrifice has become merely abnormal phenomenon in which we don’t hesitate to offer ”human sacrifice” placidly.. Suleman has eloquenlty analyse the concept of sacrifice and it’s blurred vision today ..and beautifully related it to the predicament of pakistan ..
Social pressures take over faithJamal Shahid | National | From the Newspaper November 7, 2011 (2 days ago)
ISLAMABAD, Nov 6: Times are austere indeed and people hit by it find themselves torn between the social pressures and what Islam really demands.
This year on Eidul Azha Wajahat Ali’s motivation for sacrifice stems more from society’s pressure rather than his personal faith.
He is a low grade government servant whose college going son constantly reminds him that this year he would be the only boy in his group of friends who would not be sacrificing in the name of God.
“I was planning to skip it this year and offer sacrifice on next Eid. Living is expensive these days in the salary I earn,” said the government servant who recently finished paying his two-month electricity bill in installments. It was an uphill task for him to explain his colleagues that skipping sacrifice was not a sin.Wajahat Ali was not the only one entangled in confusion over skipping sacrifice on this Eidul Azha. Ambar Baig studying in a private school has been pushing her parents to purchase a cow because most of her classmates were doing the same this year, said the 8th grader’s mother explaining the pressure that parents were facing on part of their children these days.
That is only one side of the enigma. The other side was the belief that sacrifice was Farz (obligatory) for all.
Elaborating that sacrifice was obligatory on Sahib-i-Nisab (liable to pay Zakat), Vice President Administration, International Islamic University Islamabad and Khateeb-i-Ala Faisal Mosque Sahibzada Sajidur Rehman cleared the air in a one liner, “Sacrifice on Eid is farz on the person on whom Zakat is farz”.
Explaining the ‘simple’ formula, the professor urged not to get into the argument of what was farz and wajib (recommended) or Sunnah. Some scholars did not subscribe to his rather too strict approach. “Sacrifice is not Farz. It is Wajib (recommended) – a step below the acts that are farz and a step higher than Sunnah,” explained Dr Mohammad Tufail who is a professor in the Hadith department, IIUI and is also Federal Shariat Court jurist consultant.
In the expert’s opinion, sacrifice held significance in all the three revealed books. Even in pre-Islam Arabia, Arabs would mark their animals before sacrifice for a superior being, he elaborated.
“And Allah has ordered clearly in Surah Kausar to pray and sacrifice in His name. There is no offense/punishment mentioned in the Holy Quran if one does not sacrifice. Moreover, sacrifice is like an uplift or welfare scheme to remember the poor and take them along on this day,” Dr Mohammad Tufail added.
Yet another candid and progressive opinion came from a researcher with the Council of Islamic Ideology and author of books like ‘Islam and Extremism’, ‘Religious Sects in Pakistan’ and ‘Unity of Islamic Ummah’ Saqib Akbar who firmly believed that sacrifice was neither farz nor wajib on even those performing Haj let alone for Muslims living in Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan or elsewhere.
Calling for Ijtehad (reinterpretation) on the subject based on time and space, Saqib Akbar clarified that it was done to remember the sacrifice Prophet Ibrahim was going to make, he said, adding that “Although, it is the command of the Ulema that sacrifice is compulsory for a Haji but it is in no way sin if one does not sacrifice even if he or she can afford it.”
He argued that sacrifice was not practiced as enthusiastically in most Muslim countries as it was in Pakistan.
“We also need to sit together to figure out if mass-sacrifice is beneficial to the society as a whole. People do not consider that on days nearing Eid meat touches Rs1,000 per kg against Rs500 to Rs600 on other days or that the country lost heavily in foreign exchange to import sacrificial animals to meet the demand,” said the expert not ruling out the plus points that shepherds made good money once a year and that the poor got to eat plenty of meat.
He argued that the clerics maybe sincere when they stressed on the importance of sacrifice but their sincerity was no good when one was finding it difficult to make ends meet.
“We respect teachings passed down to us a thousand years ago. But it is time to put heads together and do away with confusions,” he said explaining with an example how laws pertaining to slaves were no longer relevant.
http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/07/social-pressures-take-over-faith.html
Great….
Extraordinary….