Sacrifice

Assalamu 'Alaikum,

Sacrifice

Nope, I did not rise in the ranks. From the Eidul Adha* just after marriage to today my main contribution to the proceedings is again to sit on the cow while it is being slaughtered. The Rambo knife I bought at Kuala Kangsar R&R a long time ago is again just for show and a conversation  piece. I had harboured hopes of doing something more important this year but just like the rugby school trials in days gone by, I was again this year just an also ran. Determined to learn something this time I cut my teeth in the ‘lapah’ procedures being responsible for deskinning half a leg of the cow. Even that was due to the sympathy of Abe Long, my brother in law who sensed my desire to do something more important this year. The fact that a cow is 50% stomach full of chewed grass, no longer surprised as it did the first time I engaged with the slaughtering process. This time I learnt that skinning the cow begins with the legs and just underneath the neck of the cow till you meet half way in the groin.  Tok Aboh reminded us to be careful with the skin to ensure it remains whole and intact as it is to be given away to a pondok who can turn it into something useful.

It was supposed to be Tok Aboh’s maiden slaughter but after much thought he didn’t feel ready to graduate from slaughtering chicken to cows just yet. Fortunately he met a Kampuchean Tahfiz Ustaz during Subuh prayers who gamely volunteered to do the honours. This year we are doing the Qurban in front of the family home in Panji, Kota Baru instead of the usual venue of Besut in front of the late Tok We’s house. The cow for the Qurban and Aqiqah was fully subscribed by all sibling members of the family. For us only 6 year old Zahir is left to have his Qurban so our share was dedicated for him.

The night before, I asked all Tok Aboh’s grand kids whether they are ready to watch a cow being slaughtered. In unison all said they were ready; some have seen it before and many, in child bravado, indicated it’s no big deal. My children who’s never witnessed one before also joined the chorus of bravery. On the day itself I must say all passed with flying colours.

Slaughtering according to Islamic rites is another hikmah again much misunderstood. Studies have actually shown this is the most painless way to kill an animal provided the knife is very sharp, which is the reminder of the Prophet s.a.w. according to the Kampuchean Ustaz. In an Islamic slaughter you must cut the main aorta of the neck plus the breathing apparatus while maintaining the back of the neck intact. The logic is simple. As the blood gushes out of the neck aorta, the brain lacking blood sends a message to the body via the nerves at the still intact back of the neck, to send it as much blood as possible. The body duly obeys and sends more blood destined for the brain but diverted, gushing out of the cut aorta, thus achieving the slaughter objective of removing as much blood as possible from the carcass. It is a well known fact that in the blood resides all manner of germs and illnesses. Hence the hikmah of Islamic slaughtering, painless to the animal and healthiest for humans to eat.

After that it was much fun and laughter by the kids as they were given bamboo sticked pieces of beef to barbecue. The menfolk excercised their annual skills in cutting up the carcass into smaller pieces while the women folk focused on cooking the meat for the luncheon feast.

The entire Qurban exercise is to remember the ultimate sacrifice  of Prophet Ibrahim alaihissalam who with his son Ismail unquestionably obeyed the command of God given in a dream ,for father, Ibrahim to sacrifice son, Ismail. In an act of supreme sacrifice to the Maker, both father and son willingly obeyed only to be informed by God not to proceed as Ibrahim neared Ismail’s neck with the knife. Allah s.w.t said enough, you have already obeyed my command. How many Muslims today can approach this height of supreme obedience to the Maker? One is reminded of the ayah in Suratul Yasin

“Doth not man see that it is We Who created him from sperm? yet behold! he (stands forth) as an open adversary!”

Dear God, if bravery is to be given to us, your humble servants, let it not be bravery to stand against You as an open adversary.

Ameen.

Wassalam,

Zahid

‘72S

Note:
Eidul Adha  = Eid celebrations in association with the season of Haj.
Abe Long = wife eldest brother in Kelantanese dialect
Lapah = process of removing the skin of the cow using a sharp knife
Pondok =  Religious school
Tahfiz = One who can recite the entire Quran from memory.
Ustaz = A religious teacher
Subuh prayers = Dawn prayers
Qurban = An act of religious sacrifice involving the slaughter of an animal usually a cow or a goat
Aqiqah = A form of Qurban but specially in the name of recent borns
Hikmah = The wisdom behind an act or saying
Suratul Yasin = A chapter in the Quran