MINGORA -- Sulieman Khan used to sacrifice two animals in `Eid Al-Adha thanks to booming business at his café in the main bazaar of Mingora, the capital of the tourist valley of Swat. But business has been hard-hit by a full-scale military operation against local militants in the scenic valley, which used to be known as Switzerland of Pakistan because of its breathtaking scenes, emerald lakes and snow-capped mountains.
"This is for the first time in my life when I am not in a position to follow the Sunnah of Ibrahim (be peace upon him)," Sulieman, a middle-aged father of three, told IslamOnline bitterly.
He used to earn from Rs 35000-40,000 (425-500 dollars) per month till a year back.
Now, he would be lucky if his cafe makes merely Rs 12,000-15000 (150-185 dollars) a month.
"Although my business has picked up during the past three months, it is not even close to what it was in the past."
So this `Eid Sulieman will not be able to make a sacrifice and would instead wait for others to give him a share of their Udhiyah.
All About Udhiyah: Rulings and Conditions
"One of my neighbors has bought a goat and I hope he will send some meat to us on `Eid." A financially-able Muslim sacrifices a single sheep or goat or shares six others in sacrificing a camel or a cow as an act of worship during `Eid Al-Adha. The well-off and those who have the Nisab (payable amount) of Zakah should offer a sacrifice. The time for offering a sacrifice begins after the `Eid Al-Adha prayer.
The ritual commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's (Abraham) willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail to Allah as an act of obedience and submission.
Hard Times
Although a huge traditional goat market has been set up in Mingora like every year, the number of buyers is scanty. "I used to visit the goat market every year with my kids to select and buy the sacrificial animals," Sulieman said.
"But this year, I will simply buy them new clothes and shoes. This is a testing time for us and we will face that with vigor and resolve Inshaullah."
A goat is being sold at Rs 8000-12000 (100-150 dollars) while a cow is available against Rs 25000-35000 (300-425 dollars).
According to livestock market sources, there is a 60 percent decrease in buying sacrificial animals compared to the previous year due to poor economic conditions.
"This is for the first time when we are waiting for customers," Zaman Khan, a live stock dealer, told IOL.
"Earlier, we did not have time even for lunch."
Swatis were considered the riches people in the region because of their once booming tourism, hotel and fruit industry.
But economic activities tumbled after clashes between the army and local militants almost ruined the economic and development infrastructure, which experts say would talk years to restore.
"We had had a roaring business till last year," Khan recalls bitterly.
"Hundreds of Swatis would perform additional sacrifices in low income areas of Malakund division till last year, but this year, they are not in a position to even buy a single animal."
Asghar Ysufzai, a fish seller, is one of them.
"I have not been doing a good business for the past several months," he told IOL, sitting in his fish shop in Mingora Bazaar.
Ysufzai says the number of customers has gone down by half and merely earned Rs 6000-7000 (75-90 dollars) this month, four times less than before the offensive.
"Now, you tell me should I go for sacrifice or buy bread and butter for my children with this meager amount?
"Not I, but every Muslim wishes to offer sacrifice on `Eid al-Adha in line with the Sunnah of noble Prophet Ibrahim but unfortunately I am not in a position to do that this year."
However, a pious Sulieman does not think the rewards for making the sacrifice would be lost even if they can not afford to do the ritual.
"Allah knows our intent. He doesn’t need the skin and bones of the sacrificial animals, but our intent which is clear."
Source: IslamOnline
"This is for the first time in my life when I am not in a position to follow the Sunnah of Ibrahim (be peace upon him)," Sulieman, a middle-aged father of three, told IslamOnline bitterly.
He used to earn from Rs 35000-40,000 (425-500 dollars) per month till a year back.
Now, he would be lucky if his cafe makes merely Rs 12,000-15000 (150-185 dollars) a month.
"Although my business has picked up during the past three months, it is not even close to what it was in the past."
So this `Eid Sulieman will not be able to make a sacrifice and would instead wait for others to give him a share of their Udhiyah.
All About Udhiyah: Rulings and Conditions
"One of my neighbors has bought a goat and I hope he will send some meat to us on `Eid." A financially-able Muslim sacrifices a single sheep or goat or shares six others in sacrificing a camel or a cow as an act of worship during `Eid Al-Adha. The well-off and those who have the Nisab (payable amount) of Zakah should offer a sacrifice. The time for offering a sacrifice begins after the `Eid Al-Adha prayer.
The ritual commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's (Abraham) willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail to Allah as an act of obedience and submission.
Hard Times
Although a huge traditional goat market has been set up in Mingora like every year, the number of buyers is scanty. "I used to visit the goat market every year with my kids to select and buy the sacrificial animals," Sulieman said.
"But this year, I will simply buy them new clothes and shoes. This is a testing time for us and we will face that with vigor and resolve Inshaullah."
A goat is being sold at Rs 8000-12000 (100-150 dollars) while a cow is available against Rs 25000-35000 (300-425 dollars).
According to livestock market sources, there is a 60 percent decrease in buying sacrificial animals compared to the previous year due to poor economic conditions.
"This is for the first time when we are waiting for customers," Zaman Khan, a live stock dealer, told IOL.
"Earlier, we did not have time even for lunch."
Swatis were considered the riches people in the region because of their once booming tourism, hotel and fruit industry.
But economic activities tumbled after clashes between the army and local militants almost ruined the economic and development infrastructure, which experts say would talk years to restore.
"We had had a roaring business till last year," Khan recalls bitterly.
"Hundreds of Swatis would perform additional sacrifices in low income areas of Malakund division till last year, but this year, they are not in a position to even buy a single animal."
Asghar Ysufzai, a fish seller, is one of them.
"I have not been doing a good business for the past several months," he told IOL, sitting in his fish shop in Mingora Bazaar.
Ysufzai says the number of customers has gone down by half and merely earned Rs 6000-7000 (75-90 dollars) this month, four times less than before the offensive.
"Now, you tell me should I go for sacrifice or buy bread and butter for my children with this meager amount?
"Not I, but every Muslim wishes to offer sacrifice on `Eid al-Adha in line with the Sunnah of noble Prophet Ibrahim but unfortunately I am not in a position to do that this year."
However, a pious Sulieman does not think the rewards for making the sacrifice would be lost even if they can not afford to do the ritual.
"Allah knows our intent. He doesn’t need the skin and bones of the sacrificial animals, but our intent which is clear."
Source: IslamOnline
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