Qurbani Indoctrinates Sacrifice, Mercifully Of Animals, And No Longer Of Humans As In Pre-Islamic Times
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
30 June 2023
"Goats
have these uncannily human eyes. This one had brown eyes and I felt a shiver of
guilt down my spine as I picked up the knife. I gulped and looked at the
others. Everyone was smiling, as if encouraging me towards my first act of
murder. My uncle even patted me on the back and asked me to hurry.
"For
the last time, I looked at the goat and then turning away and ignoring its
calls for help, I used the knife to slit its neck. Everyone was beaming at me
and I felt as if I had finally fulfilled the requirement to be part of that
group.
"The
butcher took over from here and finished the job. I couldn't dare to look back
after that, but somehow, among the back slaps and congratulations from my
cousins and relatives, I managed a glance and I saw the eyes of the animal.
"I
didn't eat the whole day."
(Read a
Muslim's heart-wrenching experience when he himself participated in this gory
and disgusting ritual as a young lad.)
Millions
and billions of animals are being slaughtered across the Muslim world as I'm
typing it out. All in the name of religion and also in the name of a
"merciful" Allah who first provoked Abraham to sacrifice his son
Ismail and then sent an animal (Dumba) to be sacrificed in place of the
child. It was Allah's way to test the devotion of Abraham and his son! Does
Allah have no other work other than to indulge in relentless self-praise and
servile devotion from his followers? Mind you, these are human attributes. Why
should the 'Almighty' long for constant praise and devotion when you and the
followers of all bogus faiths aver that the god created all creatures? If god
is so hungry for perpetual praise and obeisance, it (no he or she) would have
created all humans with an innate habit of praying to it (god) 24X7.
Coming back
to sacrifice, anthropologists like Ray Hirst and Collin Fearnley are of the
opinion that sacrifice - earlier it was human sacrifice in Hinduism and its
many cults as well as in the Central American and African cults - in all
religions, cults and quasi-religions symbolised blood indoctrination, an
integral part of initiation into a religious cult. Blood would be used for the
consecration. American historian Will Durant wrote in his book, ' The History
of Religion ' that in ancient times, no religious act would be complete without
the sprinkling of blood. Blood, esp. human blood was a permanent religious
fixture. With the passage of time, human blood was replaced with animal blood
but the blood-oriented custom continued. By the way, human sacrifice was
prevalent in Hinduism till around 1780 C.E. Its Tantra (occultist) sect still
indulges in sanguinary practices like using the blood of a menstruating lass.
Yuck! There's one Hindu 'goddess' Kali (actually a tribal deity). To propitiate
her, devotees sacrifice animals, earlier humans would be sacrificed to placate
her. Blood was considered as a potent offering to the deities in all faiths.
From
religio-anthropological perspective, blood was used by the primitive societies
for removing the fear of death. Professor Hamilton Gibb, the great Englishman
who taught Arabic and Middle Eastern languages at Oxford, quoted pre-Islamic
poet Baneez who described how the sight of beheading (animals as well as
humans) would be used to harden people and remove the fear from their hearts
and minds. That practice, with a semblance of refinement, percolated down to
Islam with the added myth of Abraham and his son. In fact, it's a pre-Islamic
practice of sacrificing humans when there were tribes. Islam did use this
Qurbani to harden its followers and perpetuate savagery. Centuries have elapsed
but we've not changed. A number of brain-dead, seemingly 'educated' Muslims
still sacrifice poor animals on this day. Here in Maharashtra, I'm happy for
the poor animals as many of them would get a 24-hr reprieve as Eid-al-Azha
coincides with Ekadashi (one more stupidity, this time, by the Hindus). So,
many Muslim organizations have decided to slaughter the animal a day after
Eid-al-Azha. Thanks for the small mercies! When this bloody stupidity will end
remains to be seen.
Jisne
Iss Daur Ke Insaan Kiye Hon Paida/
Wahi
Mera Bhi Khuda Ho Mujhe Manzoor Nahin
(Who
created such humans should also be my god! Sorry, I cannot accept it).
Seeing
collective human ignorance, I often think of Abdul Hameed Adam's Urdu couplet.
Anyway,
Happy Eid to all with a humble request: Spare the poor animals, please.
----
A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul
is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He
has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several
languages including Persian.
URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/qurbani-sacrifice-animals-humans-pre-islamic/d/130105