I am not exaggerating myself if I say I don't enjoy every Eid Al Adha celebration. Yes, I enjoy the takbir. Yes, I also enjoy the day off from work because of the holy day. But I can't stand imagining how those sacrificed animals (cows and goats) feel the pain when they know they're going to die.
Well, according to what I have read about the mechanism of slaughtering those animals, they won't feel any pain. But still, it always breaks my heart when I look at their faces one day before the slaughter day.
I am not the right person to ask about the details of Eid Al Adha stuff. So, I won't detail that. What I want to focus on is my personal perspective about what I learn from the sacrifice.
First, I learn about how to let go things we really love. This letting go is not because we lost them or somebody else took them. This letting go is us willingly giving the things to somebody else; in this case to the sacrifice charity. The after effect of us doing that will be so significantly empowering. It empowers us to be easily strong when the other things we love have to be gone.
Secondly, it is all about compassion. For me, compassion to animals is the truest one. When we show compassion to other human beings, that is not extraordinary. But when our compassion is given to animals, I think not many people can do it. They either hate touching them or have some phobias.
Showing compassion to farm animals (cows, goats, etc.) is by treating them like we treat our dear pets. The difference is the purpose. We take care of our pets so that we can grow old with their company. We take care of our farm animals so that our needs of meat consumption is fulfilled. This sounds very selfish and cruel, but that is what farm animals are for.
To be honest, I am not a fan of meat. But as an omnivore, I need to consume meat. Occasional consumption for me is a wise choice. And because of human need for meat, too, my husband often says that raising cows is a promising business. But not for me. My disagreement is because of my uncontrollably too-much compassion for animals. Like what is happening at this moment while I am typing this: shedding tears thinking about the animal slaughtering.
Eid Mubarak for everybody, may our sacrifice deepen our compassion for all creatures.
