Eid Mooo-Baaa-rak!

 

Eid Al Adha is coming up and honestly, I've never been comfortable with the slaughtering that goes on. I really feel terrible that these animals die..and I don't really understand why we do it. Could you please shed some light on it for me.

                         

                       Assalamualaykoum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhoo ^.^

         Dear Sis,

As we all know, Eid has arrived! :D (Well, when I was writing this at least, hehe). And it's Eid Al-Adha, to be precise.

Eid Al Adha, according to Wikipedia, means “The Greater Eid” or “The Festival Of Sacrifice”. We can understand that “sacrifice” means the slaughtering of animals.

And, since I'm not that great at introductions, lol... I’ll get straight to your question: Why do we slaughter animals when Eid Al-Adha comes?

Let me show you a verse from the Quran first, before I proceed with my explanation (aka my ramblings :P):

{He (Ibrahim PBUH) said: “Oh my son! I saw in a vision that I offered thee 

in sacrifice: What is your view?” The son (Ismael PBUH) said: “Oh my 

 Father, do as thou are commanded. You will find me, If Allah (SWT) so wills,

 one practicing patience and constancy!” So when they had both submitted 

 their will (to Allah), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (for 

 sacrifice), We called out to him: “Oh Ibrahim, You have already fulfilled the

 vision!” Thus indeed do we reward those who do right. For this was a trial

 and We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice.} (Surat As-Safat 37: 102- 107)

     

    
On Eid Al-Adha, we sacrifice animals basically to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim alyhee as salam to sacrifice his son Ismael, because it was Allah’s (SWT) command (in the form of a vision). And, as you can imagine, that was no easy feat! Ibrahim PBUH loved his son so much, as any parent would, yet he still knew that he had to obey Allah’s command. Ismael knew that, too and was ready to abide by his Lord’s command.

I mean, can you belive it? Ibrahim alyhee as salam was ready to sacrifice his OWN SON to show  his obedience and submissiveness to Allah (Subhanoo Wa' Tala). But, Our Lord, in his mercy and greatness, replaced Ismael PBUH with a ram, which Ibrahim PBUH then sacrificed.

So we, as Muslims, have since been sacrificing animals on Eid Al-Adha not only to honor Ibrahim alyhee as salam, but also to show our willingness to sacrifice in the name of Allah (SWT).

Sis, I can totally understand why you feel terrible that these animals die. But in the end, the truth of the situation is that our Lord (SWT) created these animals... 

For us. 

They aren’t going to go to either Jannah or hellfire like us. They can’t think about the world the way we do. They won’t be judged the way we are judged on the day of judgment, although they will have a different form of judgment:

“These communities will be brought on the day of judgment while the

people are brought the day of judgment. While the people are standing,

there will be a judgment among the animals to such an extent that the

bald-headed sheep will retaliate from the horny sheep and the atom from 

another. Then it will be said to them: “Be dust!”. At this moment the 

disbeliever will say: “Woe unto me! Were that I were (mere) dust!”

 -Sahih Muslim 

Of course, that doesn’t mean we can be cruel with these animals! A woman entered hell fire because she was so cruel to a kitten that it died :( We have to treat animals with kindness and with what befits another living soul. 

The thing to keep in mind is that every thing on this earth submits to Allah. Just like we submit to Allah, the animals also submit to Allah (the birds in the sky, the whales in the seas, and yes, the cows and goats on the farms). And just like we give our lives and would willingly die for Allah, the animals give up their lives for the sake of Allah. 

And also, from some of these animals is sustenance for us, and that is why Allah (Subhanoo Wa' Tala) made it permissible for us to slaughter these animals. We are also highly encouraged to give a third of the slaughter to the poor, and this helps the community come closer together.

“To every people did we appoint rites (of sacrifice) that they may celebrate

the name of Allah over the sustenance he gave them (fit for food). But your 

God is one God: Submit then your wills to Him, and give thou the good 

news to those who humble themselves” (Surat Al-Hajj 22:34)

Even then, the animal must be treated kindly, even if it is going to be slaughtered, and until it is slaughtered. Then it is slaughtered as quickly and as painlessly as possible, God’s name being pronounced over it before that.

And, you know what? Perhaps Allah eases their pain... He is the All-Merciful and He is capable of having their souls seized painlessly. The body may bleed, but perhaps they are not feeling the pain. We don't really know.

Well, Insha Allah, I hope that cleared up some things for you, and anyone else reading this :) Eid Mubarak everyone, and may Allah let us live to see more Eids to come ^^

Sincerely forever,