Lo and
behold, it is that time of the year again. When bells and bleats can be heard
in the streets, heralding the return of another Eid-ul-Azha. Members of prestigious herds, in all their
glory can be seen filing into the homes and hearts of many.
But hang on
for a second, there is something rather unpleasant that accompanies this Holy
Holiday every single time it comes around. Unpleasant though is a light word.
Stronger words like ‘utterly revolting’,’ undeniably criminal’ and ‘perfectly
blasphemous against the laws of social propriety’, would be rather fitting.
It is not
the concept of the slaughter that I am against. I do believe in notions of
vegan-ism or vegetarianism. But I do believe one thing. That I have a right to
walk through my neighbourhood without having to clench my nose and protect
myself from the smell that pervades the air. That I have a right to walk
through the streets without fear of stepping into something unwelcoming. That I
have a right, as a citizen of this country, to walk freely on Eid day without
having to avoid streams of red colour. (Okay so, it wasn't one thing)
My rights
are being trampled under a hoof of tyrannous oppression ladies and gentlemen. A
hoof that is symbolic of a violation of everything that my constitution grants
me. Freedom of movement, unimpeded by something an animal decided to do.
Freedom of getting my regular 8 hours, uninterrupted by bleating and mooing. Freedom
from the chore of having to wash my tyres because someone decided to open their
gates during the qurbani.
Seriously.
What right
do individuals have to park their goats and sheep where I would want to park my
car? What right do they have to pollute the streets with blood so that they
don’t have to clean up their own porches and gardens? Show me some clause, some
amendment, some article of our constitution that permits people to discomfort
and inconvenience others due to the reasons mentioned above.
I fully
believe that people should not lower the sanctity of the sacrifice by forgoing
rules of propriety. Keep your beast where it won’t stand in my way. Clean up
after your animal and try to keep it as less vocal as possible. Common sense
dictates a local community setting up some enclosure where all the sacrifices
can take place with minimal fuss and bother. Minimal repercussions for others.
But what is that cliché about common sense not being very common?
So if you
are one of those criminals, indulging in the aforementioned transgressions,
kindly quit it. Or if you aren't and know someone who is, then get them to
kindly quit it. Share this and further the noble cause of “Insan Ban Kar Qurbani Karo”. And make Eid-ul-Azha a momentous and
joyous occasion for one and all.
By Imaad Hasan
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