Blood, Guts, and Idul Adha

Yesterday was the Muslim holiday of Idul Adha, a celebration of the prophet Abraham.  According to the Al Quran, Abraham showed his obedience to Allah by offering to sacrifice his son after having a vision that he should do so. His son consented to be sacrificed; however, because both Abraham and his son were willing to show their obedience to Allah, his son was spared. On Idul Adha, Muslims celebrate by sacrificing cows and goats in remembrance of the sacrifice of Abraham’s son. The meat from the sacrifices is then distributed throughout the community. I stayed with my Ibu Yut to learn more about the holiday and to bear witness to this ceremony. The Mosque in Bu Yut’s community had acquired sixteen cows to be slaughtered. Yesterday the cows were delivered to the varying Mosques and the children enjoyed visiting them at each place. I tried to tell the cows to run in order to escape their cruel fate; but, I don’t think they understood my English.  Yesterday a tent had been set up outside of the Mosque with two holes dug beside it. Today the tent and surrounding area were filled with people who watched as each cow was led to his death. When I arrived one cow had already been sacrificed and his body had been laid only 10 feet from the crowd of people. His neck was a gaping wound and I could hear the rasping sound of his labored breath as he bled out onto the ground around him.  The next cow was unceremoniously led to an open space in the middle of the crowd. His legs were tied with rope and he was put on a large wooden pole so that he could be carried to the slaughtering hole. He was laid on his side with his head over the hole while the butcher used a large, extremely sharp knife to slice open his throat. He did not struggle, nor emit a noise as his bright blood gushed into the hole; but, his tail and body still shuddered with the last of his life. Witnessing one slaughter was more than enough to last me a lifetime and I returned to my Bu Yut’s house with tearful eyes and a nauseous stomach.  Even though compassion took hold of me, it is experiences like this that make me grateful for this opportunity to open my eyes to new cultures and religions.