It
is mustahabb (preferable) to divide the meat of the sacrificed animal
between one’s family, his relatives and the poor to manifest social
integration.
The
ritual reminds Muslims of the great act of sacrifice Prophet Ibrahim
and his son Isma`eel were willing to make for the sake of God.
However,
with the prices of sheep spiraling up to a record LE 750 (U.S. $ 100)
per head, many of Egypt’s poverty-stricken citizens are left with
only few options.
"I
will buy a duck and divide the meat into three parts; for my family,
relatives and the needy," said Mohamed Abdullah, a garbage
collector.
He
lamented that his salary allows his family to make ends meet for only
a third of the month, due to sky-high commodity prices especially
after the devaluation of the local currency.
Turkey
Ashraf
Abd Rabbou, a civil servant, complained the prices are snaking upwards
like a fire, adding he would only be able to buy a turkey.
He
recalled that years back he and his brothers used to pool money and
share a sheep, but "even this is a far-fetched dream this
year".
Youssriya
Abdel-Haqq, 42, said she would rather buy fish instead of meat.
She
said the only hope of testing meat this year lies with a donation from
any of the high-heeled people.
Egypt
is one of the world’s ten most populated countries, with more than
70 million people and a legacy of economic and social ailments.
"As
the prices hit a 50 per cent hike and more people are living below the
poverty line, Egyptians were forced to turn to less cheap alternatives
for the sacrifice," economist Mamdouh Al-Wali said.
He
asserted that the Egyptian pound lost 40 per cent of its value after
its devaluation last year.
Citing
the latest U.N. Human Development report, the expert put at 53 the
percentage of poverty in Egypt.
Not
Sacrifice
However,
Muslim scholars maintained that the sacrificed animal should be a
sheep, cattle, cow or camel.
Gamaleddin
Mahmoud, a member of Al-Azhar Islamic Research Academy, said the meat
of the animal sacrificed should be divided in three equal parts among
the family, relatives and the needy.
Zekeriye
Beyaz, the dean of theology faculty in Istanbul university, said in
2001 that poultry could be sacrificed by those unable to buy a cow or
a sheep.
However,
this argument was rejected by many scholars, including the mufti of
Saudi Arabia who dismissed it as "baseless".
Sheikh
Abdel-Aziz Ibn Abdullah Al-Sheikh was quoted as asserting: "It is
just a Sunnah to sacrifice. Those who could not afford should not do
it".
