Muslims around the world are busy celebrating their most special festival of this year, Bakrid (Id-ul-Azha). In Gulf countries including Saudi Arabia, the date of sacrifice is 27th May, while in India and Asian countries the date of sacrifice is 28th May. On this day, Muslims sacrifice their favorite animal as per the story of Hazrat Ibrahim. This sacrifice is given in memory of bowing the head before the orders of Allah i.e. God.
Bakrid Muslims either eat the animal sacrificed on the occasion of this festival or distribute it among their neighbors or other relatives. However, one question remains discussed frequently. How do Muslims who are vegetarian celebrate Bakrid?
Number of vegetarian Muslims in the world
Pew Research According to , most Muslims in India consider themselves vegetarian. According to a survey, 8 percent of Muslims described themselves as vegetarian. These Muslims do not consume meat and fish. The population of Muslims in India is around 20 crores.
similarly frottiers In a survey, 11 percent of the people of Saudi Arabia described themselves as vegetarian in 2021. Of these, 7.8 percent people said that they are vegan. The number of Muslims in Saudi is around 93 percent.
In Indonesia, which has a 99 percent Muslim population, there are 2 percent people who consider themselves vegetarian. Even in Muslim countries like Türkiye, the number of Muslims eating vegetarian food is quite good.
How do vegetarian Muslims celebrate Bakrid?
bbc turkish has prepared a report based on conversations with vegetarian Muslims around the world. According to this, vegetarian Muslims do not participate in the process of sacrifice on that day. Apart from this they celebrate it as a simple festival.
According to Ayesha Yunus, who lives in Wales, Britain, she wears new clothes on this day. Cooks pure vegetarian food with friends. Ayesha says that on this day she donates goods and money.
Fauzia, who lives in Beirut, told the BBC that her love for animals made her a vegetarian. Every year during Bakrid she donates. Fauzia says that sacrifice lies in giving charity.
Zahra of Istanbul believes that the essence of this festival lies in the fact that the devotees give up anything valuable to them and help the poor. I do this every year on the occasion of Bakrid.
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