Baqr Eed

According to the Qur’an, only those Muslims who perform Haj are required to sacrifice animals. If Muslims do this on their own, wherever they are during that period, that's up to them. In the Qur’an there is no direct or indirect indication of a requirement that a non-pilgrim Muslim is required to perform Qurbaani (sacrifice) to celebrate Haj. The Prophet and the early khalipha (caliph) never practiced it.

I heard the mulla at a mosque many years ago, in Iqbal Town (I always used to tell people that it was named after Iqbal Bano!), state openly - in a Baqr Eed prayer gathering - that all Muslims who had performed the Qurbaani must come and be in the front rows while others should be behind them on such an occasion. Hmmm …

بقر (Baqr) means Calf.

It is also the name of Qur'an's Second Sürah.

In Pakistan some of our people can't pronounce Baqr and say Bakr (that sounds like a ک instead of a ق to others). This has led people to think it is Bakr Eed and the original term must have بکر in it. But بکر (Bakr) means a Goat. This has made some members of a new generation begin to call the festival: بکرا عید (Bakra Eed) meaning a Happy Goat's Day (but not for goats, I guess).

I must tell you, though, that one greeting card I received last year from USA had بكرید (Bakrid) written across the front page. Pleeeez: Let's get back to Baqr Eed. Or to Eed-ul-Adhaa, if Arabic is your preferred choice ;)

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One of you have asked me on our phone call yesterday about why won't Jews, Christians, and Muslims, celebrate Baqr Eed together …  since they all 'follow' this prophet.

There are simple - but very contradictory - answers.

In Bible's Old Testament, the book of Genesis says that Hazrat Ibrahim (Abraham) was 64-ish when he married Hajira (Hagar) and 90-ish when he had Hazrat Ishaaq (Isaac). And it categorically states that it was Hazrat Ishaaq who was to be sacrificed by Hazrat Ibrahim.

The Qur'an says Hazrat Ibrahim was asked to sacrifice his son but makes no mention of Hazrat Ismail (Ishmael). However, almost all translators do add Hazrat Ismail's name in their Tafseer.

It is only in Hadees that Muslims find proof about which son of Hazrat Ibrahim it really was. 

While the majority of Muslims do accept Hadees as a fact … and some even consider the non-acceptance of Hadees as a 'Sin', one must understand that there are are some Muslims who do not accept the Hadees! Not just as an anti-Hadees group, which also exists, but some of my friends and family members (staunch Muslims on their own) who do not accept Hadees at all.

There are other Muslims who will say they accept the Hadees … but if you show them some specific Hadees they will say 'this one is not true', 'it was misunderstood', or 'it was for that time only'.

Those who do not believe in the Ahaadees need to tell us where they get this version of story from, if not from the Hadees. If they have a proof (other than the fact that other Muslims believe this, too), it would be great to know.

Am waiting!

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In case you are wondering why I spelt the festival as Baqr Eed and not Baqr Eid, take a look at my earlier post.