A Muslim woman receives 2 kilos of beef at the Cebu City Modern Abattoir. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
At least 50 cows were slaughtered at the Cebu City Modern Abattoir and their meat distributed for free to Muslim families in Metro Cebu yesterday for their celebration of the Eid al Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice tomorrow.
“Each indigent Muslim family is given two kilos of cow meat. This is also a way of giving thanks and praise that God has given,” Alexander Minalang, acting director of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF-7) said.
As of 5 p.m yesterday, there were less than 1,000 Muslim families in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Talisay who received free beef.
There were 150 cows donated by a non-government organization from Turkey.
About 50 cows each were given to Manila, Cebu and Tacloban. The distribution of free beef started yesterday and ends tomorrow or until supply lasts.
It can only be done on Oct. 4 – 6 during the observance of Eid al Adha.
Trials, triumphs
“If it’s given after Oct. 4-6 , that’s no longer a religious sacrifice. That would be an ordinary giveaway,” Minalang said.
Eid al-Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice, commemorates what Muslims believe was Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail — the Biblical Ishmael, though Christians and Jews believe his other son Isaac was the near-sacrifice — as a test of his faith from God.
In the end, he is provided with a sheep to sacrifice instead.
In remembrance, Muslims around the world slaughtered sheep and other livestock on Saturday, giving some meat to the poor.
Because Eid follows the Muslim lunar calendar that depends on sightings of the moon, some Muslims will be celebrating the first day of Eid on Sunday like the majority of Indonesians in the world’s most populous Muslim nation of 240 million.
Aside from lamb, goats and cows are considered for the offering.
“One cow was offered by seven people because it’s big. The lamb and goat was offered by one person because the animal is small. The animal cannot be slaughtered without the giver’s presence,”explained Minalang.
Eid al Adha is a regular holiday throughout the Philippines as provided by Republic Act No. 9849.
Muslims are also worshiping in mosques. There are 4,500 Muslim households who work, study and own businesses in Cebu.
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