Lucknow : As the festival of Eid-ul-Azha approaches, the Islamic Centre of India (ICI) has issued a 12-point advisory calling on Muslims to honour the sanctity of the sacrificial ritual by avoiding the practice of photographing or filming animal sacrifice and sharing it on social media platforms, reported the Times of India.
The advisory was released on Monday by Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali, chairman of the ICI, emphasizing that the act of sacrifice is a sacred obligation for financially capable Muslims (Sahib-e-Haisat) and must not be turned into a spectacle for public display.
“The ritual of Qurbani is an act of spiritual devotion and should not be showcased as entertainment. Posting videos online reduces its sanctity and invites misunderstanding and criticism,” said Maulana Khalid Rasheed.
He urged the community to ensure that sacrifices are carried out in accordance with civic rules and religious guidelines. This includes sacrificing only law-permitted animals such as goats, and doing so strictly at authorized locations — not in public spaces like roads or open streets.
The advisory also highlights the importance of cleanliness during the three-day festival from June 7 to 9. It warns against disposing of sacrificial blood into drains, terming the practice both unhygienic and religiously discouraged. Instead, the Maulana recommended that blood be buried in the ground where it can act as fertilizer, and that all animal waste be cleared through municipal sanitation services.
Another key point in the advisory stresses that one portion of the meat must be distributed to the poor, but in clean and properly packed containers. “This ensures dignity for the recipients and maintains the public image of the community,” said the cleric.
The ICI has regularly issued such advisories in previous years to promote responsible, lawful, and spiritually aware observance of Eid-ul-Azha, appealing to the broader Muslim community to act in a way that reflects the true essence of the sacrifice — compassion, humility, and social welfare.
