Eid-ul-Adha is upon us.
As people around the world prepare to celebrate this festive day -- one of the two most important celebrations for Muslims -- it is important that we reflect on and follow the values that this day preaches.
Eid-ul-Adha is a lesson in sacrifice, where Muslims demonstrate their obedience to God by ritually sacrificing animals and sharing the meat with their families, peers, and the poor. It is a holiday where we practice compassion and the spirit of sharing.
In the past, however, we have witnessed the festival resulting in a messy aftermath, due to careless planning and poor hygiene practices. With thousands of animals being slaughtered on this occasion, large amounts of waste are generated each year, the improper disposal of which poses a serious threat to the environment and the people.
Additionally, despite areas being allocated for the slaughter itself, large numbers of people choose to carry out the sacrifice in private spaces, leading to the resultant blood, waste, and stench being unconfined, and impacting the general public for days to come.
The unusable remains of, and excretion from, the animals being left undisposed may also cause an infestation of insects and diseases, leading to much more serious health hazards for the people.
To that end, it is good to see the government acknowledge the threats in recent years, and that steps have been taken by the authorities ahead of the holidays this year to ensure even the preparations for Eid are carried out in an orderly manner, with 19 dedicated areas assigned for cattle markets to be set up.
This is the direction that we ought to stay on throughout the holiday period, with dedicated efforts being made to guarantee regulated celebrations.
In the spirit of this holy occasion, we must ensure that all necessary steps are taken to facilitate a safe, clean, and smooth Eid. The slaughtering of animals must only be carried out in the areas designated by the government, and prompt cleaning measures must be taken immediately afterwards. Hygiene guidelines must be enforced by relevant authorities and maintained by all citizens.
Eid-ul-Adha calls for sacrifices to be made for a greater cause, and this is the perfect occasion to act on the health of our people -- arguably one of the most important contributors to a nation's well-being.
As we celebrate an auspicious day like Eid-ul-Adha, we must remember the principles of cleanliness that Islam teaches us; public health and hygiene must be given the utmost priority -- not just by the government, but also all of us as individual, responsible members of society.
Only recently did we successfully beat a global pandemic; we cannot let another major health risk ensue simply due to unhygienic practices.
We wish our readers a safe and prosperous Eid.
