Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

14 Questions

It is highly recommended to sacrifice on Eid Al-Adha, but it is not obligatory except on pilgrims in Hajj. The narration you mentioned means the importance of the sacrifice and the great reward of it but does not mean that it is obligatory.

Wassalam.

Every human being who obeys Allah (SWT) despite his/ her desires, will get great reward. More sufferings in the obedience of Allah will lead to more reward. 

Desires are not always good for the human being, but many sexual desires, financial desires, etc can be harmful in many situations, that is why, the wisdom says that we must keep our desires under the control of our intellect which is guided by the orders of our Creator (Allah).

Wassalam.

Most people eat animals. In fact all of nature is about eating. If you look outside, all you see is one thing eating another thing, from the birds to the insects to the mice to the cats to the fish and everything else. Lots and lots of eating!

It is really hard to comment on the will of animals. Obviously animals have a survival instinct which makes them dislike being killed. However, most farm animals would not exist at all if people hadn't taken the effort to breed them and raise them.

What can be said is that it is allowed for people to eat animals as long as they are treated and slaughtered in the right way, although some people may choose not to.

The "sacrifice" here is about sacrificing the time, money, and effort it takes to raise an animal (or, if it is purchased, to pay for that) and then giving away a good amount of it. In times where people had very limited food options, or in places where many people don't have access to healthy food, this is a big service to other people. It is one thing to advocate being a vegetarian in a place with many food options and where you can eat a healthy diet without meat or animal products, and a different thing when not eating animals can lead to malnutrition.

(This is as opposed to some older religious traditions where sacrificing an animal for deities or other beings was said to offer things that were useful for them such as blood; the Quran clarifies that God, as pure divinity, does not receive the meat or blood but rather acknowledges the sense of sacrifice.)

Sometimes these questions come up because some people look down on Muslims for being barbaric. However I would point out that in the United States, almost everyone considers it traditional to eat a turkey on Thanksgiving, and eating it requires slaughtering it, and sometimes homeless shelters also serve turkey to those in need, yet it is rare to hear people comment on that or treat it as backwards. 

as salam alaikum

the holy Qur'an says: "We have made the sacrifical animals among the symbols appointed by Allah for you. They are of immense good for you. So in the name of Allah stand in lines. When their flanks collapse eat from them and feed him who is contented and him who begs. In these way We have made this subservient to you so that you may render thanks" (22:36).

It is correct to say that the sacrifice of Eid al-Adha includes killing the ego and obey Allah. Since the order of sacrifice has been given by Allah in this regard, Muslims around the world travel thousands of miles to reach Mecca and perform the rites of Hajj, spending their money, time and energy. 

The meat should be divided between rich and poor and this is also a noble act.

With prayers for your success.