What is Qurbani? and EidulAzha?

Qurbani is the annual sacrifice performed by Muslims in commemoration of Abraham's intention to offer God his only son, Ishmael. Such ultimate dedication was accepted by God through a dream in the form of a lamb. Abraham instead sacrificed lambs and distributed the meat as per his norm of being charitable. Later on, this tradition took roots in Mecca, the city of his making.

Today, in keeping with Islam's origin to Abrahamic Culture, - pilgrimage, circumcision and a host of other religious acts, Muslims who can afford this donation are obligated to. For the most part the price of a sheep or a goat or even 1/7 of a cow is paid and the meat distributed to the poor and needy.

While many are not privileged to have the time and access to actually perform the slaughter, especially in modern societies, many bona fide charitable organizations will accept the amount and have the act performed in some underprivileged place in the world. The price is about CDN 230.00 for a sheep and the meat can be consumed by oneself, by friends and neighbors, albeit the destitute deservingly are mostly the recipients.

The prayer at the time of the sacrifice remains one as in making any domesticated animal halal for consumption-blessing the meat by mentioning God's name (Bismillah), the source of life and the prayer for acceptance finalizes the act- Oh Allah accept from us as you did from Abraham! The intention of the devotee is considered made at the time of paying the amount and hence there is no need for publication of names and lengthy litanies, however, the mention of it doesn't invalidate the act.

Finally this is not a senseless ritualistic ruin of animals but rather an act of charity that has deeper roots into an historical act, done by a Prophet shared by world religions, of great self sacrifice. Today he remains an emblem of unity and icon for alleviation of poverty through this pro bono act of religious charity. Muslims should therefore think of those daily food banks when planning their Qurbani as this meat is good for all humanity.

EidulAzha is the festival when this act is performed, mostly three days, commencing just after the performance of the pilgrimage to Mecca. The Hijra calendar marks it as 10th of ZilHijja and this year it may fall on Tuesday, December 9th, as per calculated predictions.

Be what day it is, this time of Eid doesn’t usually get the same fanfare like the Eid of Feast. But shouldn't Eid be festive and filled with jubilation? After all this is also thanksgiving for having Ishmael's life saved and God making it easy that purchasing a simple goat is enough to display rather fulfill the need for divine approval in the devotee-God circle of love.

Obama’s victory

Obama’s victory

And how can one not be romantic about President Obama's win? I cried tears of joy and poured prayers of gratitude and protection, that while many have sought him with demeaning names, his conviction for change was marvelously answered- like the Secret magic or rather the Moses rising out of the wicker basket in the drowning ocean of two centuries of slavery. But definitely the divine intervention to have a Muslim-sounding-name American of black ancestry to sit in the White House, while many pundits of doom scattered our horizons with otherwise disdain, is democratically reassuring. Will the Third World and the Muslim lands kindly stand with renewed vigor and peaceful discipline in their electoral challenges?

While racism has not ended, it has sure made an opening for exit. Yes, the many times Muslims felt alienated only to be brought back into the circle of love by no lesser a person like Collin Powel speaks volumes that an inclusive process is the sure strategy of a successful democracy. May this inspire the rest of the world where the price of the same is the costly price of lives and dignity! The Prophet of Medina established the precedents of having the will of the people decide when he signed the treaty among the religious groups of that city and when he ruled by shura or collective consultation. Once more the tears of my reflection gathered momentum upon the sight of 104 years old African woman saying she couldn't have exercised her right being a woman and a person of different color.

My heart throbbed grievously that Brother Malcolm seem oblivious as the remarks of others triumphed in credit. But this was his dream- a vision where colour was absent but ideas flourished, where class vanished but character reigned and where the superficial clout of wealth and power disintegrates while faith and trust fly high. Inspired he was from Muhammad, the great world leader, who made not only persons of different country and color one of his own but he made it forbidden to insult anyone of such- there is no black or white and no Arab and non Arab but yes there will always be respect for piety and good works.

So at a time when the world wants the end of violence, when Muslims are tired answering about their religion's peaceful stand in the jury box of opinions and when jobs are loss to mega bucks protection, this is the time to not only hope for change but collectively work to make that inspiration not become thin flurries on the plains of life sunny challenges. Now we are not onto a destination so much as we are on a journey.

Abu Bakr, the first Caliph, rightly said in his acceptance speech some 1400 years ago, preserved until today without the help of you tube, fellow citizens correct me if I err as that would be dearer that following me in error. I am hopeful when I heard our brother Barack said he will listen more to the disagreeing opinions- yes it's time we do not only listen but hear- for something divine may come out of our global poverty of virtue and absence of environmental well being.

Dale Carnegie said it mostly aptly: Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.

Q 13:11 says: Verily never will God change the condition of a people until they change it themselves. Congrats to him and all his supporters and thank you for your time- may this world be a better place.