Muslims urged to avoid animal sacrifices on Poya day

16 October 2013 06:58 am - 44 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Sri Lankan Muslim clerics are encouraging worshippers to refrain from offering animal sacrifices a day after Eid Al Adha celebrations which coincides with the Buddhists religious Poya day.

The request to Muslim congregations during prayers has been made to avoid hurting the sentiments of the majority Buddhists in the country, said a Muslim cleric, Moulavi M. Hannan.

“We have to respect the religion and culture of the people we live with,” he said during a congregational prayer.

Around 1.5 million Muslims are celebrating the Eid Al Adha festival on Wednesday in the island nation where Buddhists make up a 70 per cent of population.

Muslim leaders have been urging the faithful to refrain from offering the ritual Udhiya sacrifice on Thursday.

Buddhists consider every full moon day of the month a sacred Poya Day, which falls a day after the Eid Celebrations this month.

“Co-existence is mandatory in Islam whereas sacrifice of animals is only optional, so there’s no harm in avoiding Udhiya until an alternative is found if it hurts sentiments of our majority brothers,” said a Sri Lankan scholar from the Madinah University Sheikh Mueen Abbas.

Animal sacrifices in Sri Lanka have become controversial since the recent past with Buddhist groups calling for its ban as killing of any life form is against Buddhist scriptures.

“We also need to seek alternative slaughtering methods. One way of overcoming problems would be to implement sophisticated slaughtering houses in different parts of the country where the slaughtering and distribution is undertaken during Eid celebrations, and individuals don’t need to engage in religious sacrifices themselves. This is an area of funding in this country that Muslim NGO’s should look into,” said Abbas.

In August this year a Sri Lankan Appeal court banned the slaughter of animals in religious places of worship after Buddhist monks filed a petition seeking a ban on animal slaughter at a Hindu temple in the north western town of Chilaw.

The annual ritual mass sacrifices of animals in the Munneswaram Temple have continued to draw protests from Buddhist groups and animal rights activists over the past few years.

During this year’s celebrations in September, the temple obtained a court order preventing protests from taking place near the temple premises.

Last year after monks and a government minister vehemently protested near the temple against the animal sacrifice, President Mahinda Rajapaksa intervened and requested the temple high priest to stop the animal sacrifice. (Source: Khaleej Times)

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Comments - 44

Katie Thursday, 17 October 2013 04:13 AM

Disgusted - Presume you eat chicken/fish/eggs - how about these! they are also slaughtered ! Come off it! be practical ! if you don't want to eat meat its your problem, let those who want to eat it have it. This is nonsense.

Real Lankan Wednesday, 16 October 2013 01:39 PM

First of all, Ban killing any animals in our country.
We should respect the nature as a part of respect for our great creator of this wonderful world.

crick Wednesday, 16 October 2013 02:38 PM

yes. try doing the same in India!

ranjith chandraseker Thursday, 17 October 2013 03:31 AM

Killing is a way of life in Islam. This is the only religion that remembers God before killing humans or even innocent animals by shouting "Allahu Akbar".

Sharia Boy Thursday, 17 October 2013 03:32 AM

This is not a new thing. Muslims have avoided poyaday animal slaughter for quit a long time. Vesak and Poya weeks also have been avoided.

Junken Thursday, 17 October 2013 03:32 AM

Stop fishing. Stop alcohol. Stop non veg

#KFC Thursday, 17 October 2013 03:34 AM

I'm sure you've tried Chicken...?

Sharia Boy Thursday, 17 October 2013 03:38 AM

it is high time that people open their senses and accept that taking a life of an animal, tree, insect, vegetable, virus, bacteria, etc...with a purpose is A RIGHT ACT, A MORAL ACT.

Fayad Thursday, 17 October 2013 03:38 AM

Very good move by Muslim clerics
All have to respect other religious rights

Sharia Boy Thursday, 17 October 2013 03:43 AM

Sharia law is the Best law for Humans. If there is an alternative forward your proposal. In SL we have death sentence and life sentence that goes for 10 life spans, which is ridiculous..

fact Thursday, 17 October 2013 03:52 AM

Indiyaa we.. indiyaa we... lankaa we ehema wenney naha...

jonson Wednesday, 16 October 2013 01:03 PM

Dear Muslim Brothers,

Good move.

Appreciate your understanding being in a multi religious country.

nicky karunarathna Thursday, 17 October 2013 04:25 AM

No one and no supreme being, whether it is God business or otherwise got the right to take another living being's life, whether it is his believe or not whole 365 days of the year in the moonlight or sunlight, whether it is bright or dim. That's it. Since this idiotic three Abrahamic religions came into existence and that barbaric God ask Abraham to sacrifice his own son and guy cheated the his own God and sacrificed a lamb instead in the medieval desert religious practises. Grow up idiots and love every living being and not harm them.

Bhaiyya Thursday, 17 October 2013 04:28 AM

Good Move,

Every one should respect the other religous brothers and sisters feelings, but one must understand that anyone who is against this why they want to put a hold to slaughtering cows only?
chiken, goats, fish, pig every creature has a life, why people don't shout to stop that?

If we don't slaughter cows withing 2-3 years cattle population will be equalent or exceeds human population in Sri lanka and govt. will have to hunt them down to reduce it to a lower level.

UN-Justice Thursday, 17 October 2013 04:37 AM

I do believe all Muslim brothers will abide by the above ruling, and cooperate with Budhist brothers,

Sam Thursday, 17 October 2013 05:04 AM

GEt our of ur dream man....how can u ban killing liviing things for food...then u cant even eat vegetables..cos they also hv life...be practical...

Alistair Randall Thursday, 17 October 2013 05:08 AM

You are talking cock.
You cannot justify killing of animals in any way. If you need meet, eat your own hands and then your feet.

Alistair Randall Thursday, 17 October 2013 05:09 AM

What nonsense are you talking ? What do you know about poya day ? Get your facts right.

Justinian Thursday, 17 October 2013 06:18 AM

Food, first study the religion Islam before making bulshit comments.

Lankan Thursday, 17 October 2013 06:38 AM

So ur implying we all should follow ur Sharia law???

Dilhan Thursday, 17 October 2013 07:06 AM

Appreciate your thinking mate.we need more people like you..keep it up!!

sapphire Friday, 18 October 2013 11:14 AM

Other religious people also must respect the other religious rights and values, then only it will blend as a good understanding multi religious country.

sana Wednesday, 16 October 2013 08:59 AM

we should cut the head off on these who are drug loads and gansters in sri lanka(3/4 of the parliament )

Anjula Wednesday, 16 October 2013 07:14 AM

Good move & this is the way that paying respect to other religions. In spite of considering word which sense " majority", Humans should be aware that how they can pay respect to any religion. Then only as country can step up ahead with harmony.

Prof. Calculas Wednesday, 16 October 2013 07:22 AM

Why only on Poya Day? Stop killing of animals on all days. On Poya days, the majestic elephants are paraded on the streets in fancy dress. It that nice? No No.

das Wednesday, 16 October 2013 07:23 AM

Stop this barbarism. I thought it was banned

Disgusted Wednesday, 16 October 2013 07:32 AM

It's sad to say that any religion encourages a disgusting thing such as animal slaughter. Really hope someone with some sense will put an end to this.

mirage Wednesday, 16 October 2013 07:37 AM

Great comment made by one the Srilanakan cleric, hope everyone can learn something out of this...

jehan Wednesday, 16 October 2013 07:37 AM

slaughtering is compulsory for muslims who have the neccessary means.its not optional.

ANTON Wednesday, 16 October 2013 07:46 AM

WHY CAN'T THEY URGE TO AVOID EXECUTION OF SHARIA LAW IN MIDDLE EAST COUNTRIES INCLUDING THE CUTTING NECKS OF HUMAN BEING.

Dr. Harsha Wednesday, 16 October 2013 07:52 AM

Good move...Well done and keep it up

Dr.P.Gayatri Wednesday, 16 October 2013 07:57 AM

Very good move.There should not be any animal scarification in Sri Lanka.

Grace Wednesday, 16 October 2013 08:58 AM

I know many Hindus in Sri Lanka do not any non vegetarian food on Poya days as a respect to Buddhism.

Justice Wednesday, 16 October 2013 07:12 AM

Killing of human beings is normal in this country even on a Poya day. Taverns are closed on Poya days as it is considered a holy day. But who stock the spirits on the previous day to party the following day? For bites they buy beef on the day prior to Poya day as the beef shops are closed. Can the BBS put a stop to this? Can they prevent rape, extortion, killings etc?.

critisiser Wednesday, 16 October 2013 09:01 AM

“We have to respect the religion and culture of the people we live with,”

true fact, but this should be in the both ends! is int?

dIREsTRAITS Wednesday, 16 October 2013 09:09 AM

scarification ???? Dr. ??? really ???

Ranjith Silvar Wednesday, 16 October 2013 09:11 AM

Are you talking about India or Middle East?

sobers Wednesday, 16 October 2013 09:16 AM

Slaughtering of Animals No. Killing of Human beings YES!

Yowsan Wednesday, 16 October 2013 09:28 AM

Give respect and get respect!!!
Killing of human beings is another subject Sri Lanka will have to address.
Happy that people are thinking about others now!!!

SADA Wednesday, 16 October 2013 10:27 AM

What about killing of Monkey's

tony Wednesday, 16 October 2013 11:56 AM

ARE YOU DREAMING

tony Wednesday, 16 October 2013 12:03 PM

YOU IMPLEMENT THE LAW AND YOU CAN SEE THEM VANISH

Deva Wednesday, 16 October 2013 12:44 PM

What happened to Cow slaughtering. is it banned or allowed. Ban all types of killings (also humans).

Kamal Wednesday, 16 October 2013 12:59 PM

Then you stop breathing. You are killing millions of tiny creatures that are living in the air by breathing.

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Muslims urged to avoid animal sacrifices on Poya day

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