“The Sacrifice of Eid: A Lesson in Compassion”As Eid ul Adha approached, Aslam’s household was filled with excitement and anticipation. His daughters, Afia and Shazia, had been looking forward to the celebrations for weeks. But amidst the joy and festivity, a somber reality loomed – the family couldn’t afford to sacrifice an animal.Fifteen years ago, when prices were lower, they had sacrificed a goat, but now the cost was prohibitive. Aslam’s meager income as a primary school teacher barely covered their basic needs. His wife had already cut vegetables, but the thought of meat seemed like a distant dream.Afia’s innocent question – “Baba, will we get meat this Eid?” – pierced Aslam’s heart. He had no answer, no comfort to offer. His wife suggested seeking help from relatives, but Aslam’s pride stood in the way. He didn’t want to beg.As the day of Eid dawned, the family’s hopes were crushed. Relatives who had once shared meals with them now shut their doors, leaving them with nothing but disappointment and humiliation. Aslam’s eyes welled up with tears as he realized that his family’s sacrifice was not just about slaughtering an animal but about sharing the meat with those in need.Just then, a knock on the door changed their fate. Akram, their neighbor, arrived with a large piece of meat. “My younger brother brought it from the village,” he said. “We can’t consume it all alone.” Aslam’s gratitude knew no bounds.But the next day, a stark reality hit them. The transformer had burned out, and the power was out. The meat, now spoiled, was being devoured by dogs and jackals. Aslam’s heart sank as he saw his relatives, who had earlier refused to help, throwing away the spoiled meat.Afia’s question – “Did they sacrifice for the dogs and jackals?” – struck a chord. Aslam realized that true sacrifice is not just about rituals but about showing compassion and generosity towards others. The Quran says, “Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is the piety from you” (Surah Al-Hajj, 37).Aslam’s family learned a valuable lesson that Eid. The slaughtering of animals is not an end in itself; it’s a means to an end. The real sacrifice is sharing the meat with those who cannot afford it, the poor, the orphaned, and the widowed. Freezing and stocking meat in refrigerators is a great sin, and Allah Kareem does not accept such sacrifices.As the family sat together, savoring the meat provided by Akram’s kindness, they knew that true sacrifice is not about grand gestures but about small acts of kindness. As the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “A man is not a believer who fills his stomach while his neighbor is hungry.” (Bukhari)Let us remember this Eid that true sacrifice is not just about animals; it’s about showing compassion to all creatures, great and small. Let us strive to make our sacrifices meaningful, not just symbolic. For in the end, it’s not the meat that matters but the mercy we show to others.