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[22:32] Indeed, those who reverence the rites decreed by GOD demonstrate the righteousness of their hearts. [22:33] The (livestock) provide you with many benefits for a period, before being donated to the ancient shrine. [22:34] For each congregation we have decreed rites whereby they commemorate the name of GOD for providing them with the livestock. Your god is one and the same god; you shall all submit to Him. Give good news to the obedient. [22:35] They are the ones whose hearts tremble upon mentioning GOD, they steadfastly persevere during adversity, they observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), and from our provisions to them, they give to charity. [22:36] The animal offerings are among the rites decreed by GOD for your own good.* You shall mention GOD’s name on them while they are standing in line. Once they are offered for sacrifice, you shall eat therefrom and feed the poor and the needy. This is why we subdued them for you, that you may show your appreciation. [22:37] Neither their meat, nor their blood reaches GOD. What reaches Him is your righteousness. He has subdued them for you, that you may show your appreciation by glorifying GOD for guiding you. Give good news to the charitable.
*22:36 Animal offerings from the pilgrims conserve the resources at the pilgrimage site. Note that almost 2,000,000 pilgrims converge on Mecca during pilgrimage.
Many traditional Muslims (Sunnis and Shiites) celebrate the “Feast of Sacrifice” believing it to be an obligation from God (even for those who do not perform Hajj). They observe it on the tenth day of the month of Zul-Hijjah (of the lunar calendar). Each family sacrifices an animal to celebrate Eid Al Adha according to a series of rules for different types of livestock. This means that millions of animals are slaughtered around the world.
The following are some examples of the difficulties and problems associated with this event:
Health problems: Hygiene problems due to waste and blood during the slaughter of animals concentrated in a short period of time. And due to difficulties in management of waste and offal.
Economic problems: around the time of Eid, there is both waste and a drop in prices of raw materials such as leather and sheep’s wool. This is because they are generated (and sometimes discarded) in huge quantities. These are important commodities for industry and crafts. Beneficiaries are often not the poor, but rather wealthy businesses.
Public health problems: Increase in cardiovascular disease, cholesterol, diabetes and gout due to overconsumption of meat.
Socio-economic problems: Paradoxically, poor families are more likely to feel obligated to celebrate this holiday than wealthy families. The purchase of an animal to be sacrificed can cause some of them financial difficulties. They are under social pressure because Eid is presented as a religious obligation. Following tradition, 2/3 of the meat sacrificed by wealthy families is given to family and friends and only 1/3 to the poor. Animal offerings are linked to the Hajj ritual (22:26-38). They are therefore reserved for pilgrims when they make the pilgrimage to Mecca. Verse 28 states: “Eat therefrom and feed the despondent and the poor.” This is the true purpose of the sacrifice. It is forbidden to hunt during this period to conserve resources and avoid waste (5:1-2). We can see that with Eid as currently practiced, the opposite result is occurring. Moreover, this festival gives a negative image of Islam by complicating the religion that God wants to be simple. Thus, instead of inviting other people to embrace the religion of God, they push them away because of the contradictions and constraints that these innovations generate.
[22:78] You shall strive for the cause of GOD as you should strive for His cause. He has chosen you and has placed no hardship on you in practicing your religion―the religion of your father Abraham.
He is the one who named you “Submitters” originally. Thus, the messenger shall serve as a witness among you, and you shall serve as witnesses among the people. Therefore, you shall observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat), and hold fast to GOD; He is your Lord, the best Lord and the best Supporter.
Many traditions associated with this Eid are not from Quran, but instead come from laws and customs made by men.
The Idols: Innovating New Religious Laws*
[42:21] They follow idols who decree for them religious laws never authorized by GOD. If it were not for the predetermined decision, they would have been judged immediately. Indeed, the transgressors have incurred a painful retribution.*
*42:21 The Islam of today’s Muslim world has been so distorted, it has become a Satanic cult. The Ulama, or religious scholars, have added many extraneous laws, prohibitions, dress codes, dietary regulations, and religious practices never authorized by God. This is one of the main reasons for sending God’s Messenger of the Covenant (9:31, 33:67, and Appendix 33).
Some traditional Muslims (Sunni and Shi’a) commemorate this feast believing that God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son. Then when he was about to do so, an angel appeared and ordered him to sacrifice a sheep, which he brought to him, in exchange of his son. The Qur’an refutes this version which has come down to us through the hadith and the Bible. God never commanded Abraham to kill his son because He never commands sin (7:28). This was a satanic dream.
Satanic Dream*
[37:102] When he grew enough to work with him, he said, “My son, I see in a dream that I am sacrificing you.
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