Jamia Nizamia fatwa allows donations instead of animal sacrifice for Bakri Eid
Hyderabad/Mumbai. Siyasat.net
After Covid-19 took tall of Ramdhan Eid celebrations this year across India, now Bakri Eid- second most important festival for Muslims may be badly affected due to ongoing Corona Pendemic.
With less than a month to go for Bakri Eid Amid Corona pendemic, there is confusion and chaos over whether the community will be able to perform qurbani (sacrifice) as part of Eidul Azha on August 1.
Prayer gatherings, outdoor celebrations and other public events were curtailed or cancelled to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in Ramdhan Eid this year.
The Darul Ifta (edict issuing centre) of the Jamia Nizamia Islamic seminary here in a fatwa issued stated that if a Muslim was unable to sacrifice animal on Eid ul Adha (Bakrid) in view of the Covid-19 pandemic, an equal amount of money could be donated to the poor.
A person from the city had sought the opinion of the Islamic seminary in view of the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic in the city. As a religious practice, the Muslims sacrifice cattle including sheep, goat, bull and camel during Bakrid.
The fatwa says in view of the prevailing situation due to Covid-19, Muslims, instead of sacrificing the animal and distributing the sacrificial meat, can give money to people including relatives, poor people or students pursuing Islamic education in seminaries. The act of distributing the amount in the present situation will be considered equivalent to sacrificing any animal, it said.
Report from Mumbai
The three-day festival begins on July 30. With the lockdown ending July 31, there is apprehension if the goats, which come from outside Mumbai, will reach the Deonar abattoir in time. There are also concerns if people will be able to sacrifice the animals at their residence amid the Covid pandemic.
Minister Aslam Shaikh said, “We will be holding a meeting with deputy CM Ajit Pawar soon. Our suggestion is to divide the goat mandi (market) across 24 wards so that buyers don’t crowd at one place.” He said they have also recommended a coupon system so that buyers can be allotted slots.
Goat traders, mostly from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, are clueless how they will ferry the animals in the midst of the lockdown.
The All India Jamiatul Qureshi, a body of the butcher community, has written to the state government seeking adequate arrangements in government abattoirs. “We have asked the government to set up sheds for livestock in view of the monsoon and have also asked that veterinarians be deployed to ensure the health of the animals,” said vice president Imran Qureshi The economic upheaval has also cast a shadow on the festival. “Most people don’t have money to buy goats as finances have been hit,” said Maulana Burhanuddin Qasmi, chairman of city-based think-tank Markazul Maarif. (With media Input)
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