BJP minority morcha chief Siddiqui urges Muslims to spare cows, says qurbani not fard

As Eid-ul-Adha approaches, during which the slaughtering of sacrificial animals remains a fundamental religious practice of the festival, the Muslim community in India, particularly in several northern states governed by the right-wing BJP, finds itself under immense and perhaps unprecedented pressure following government warnings against slaughter carried out as part of their religious duty.

Amid the growing climate of anxiety, Jamal Siddiqui, chief of the BJP minority morcha, suggested that although ‘qurbani’ is not ‘fard’, the community should refrain from sacrificing cows and especially large species, keeping religious harmony in mind.

Jamal Siddiqui appealed to Muslims to “protect cows” because of the religious reverence attached to the animal among Hindus.

Declaring that Bakrid symbolised sacrifice, restraint and fraternity, Siddiqui asserted that no prohibited animal should be slaughtered and insisted that cows must be spared entirely, arguing that Hindu religious sentiments ought to be respected during the festival.

He further maintained that economically distressed Muslims, particularly those burdened by debt and struggling for subsistence, were under no binding obligation to undertake sacrificial rituals.

Alleging that certain “self-proclaimed custodians” of religion were weaponising the tradition to exert pressure upon impoverished Muslims and raise funds through collective sacrifices, Siddiqui warned that such practices could foment communal discord and social unrest.

He also urged the faithful to offer Eid prayers only at mosques, idgahs, and officially designated locations, while seeking prior administrative permission for any open-air congregations.