The King Appeals to Refrain from Sacrifice… Shall We Slaughter the Ego and Revive the Conscience?
Ousar Ahmed/
In a pivotal moment that calls for wisdom and rationality, the royal message issued by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, in his capacity as Commander of the Faithful, urged against the sacrifice of animals this year. This decision was not merely technical or situational; it embodied responsible leadership that perceives reality with religious and social awareness, anticipating challenges with a deep national sentiment. Morocco is currently facing a dual crisis: ongoing drought harming water tables and vegetation, alongside a sharp decline in livestock numbers, compounded by rampant inflation that has burdened families. Therefore, the King’s call is not to diminish a religious practice, but to elevate its purpose and alleviate the pressure on thousands of citizens who can no longer bear the financial burden of the holiday in its consumerist form imposed by recent realities.
The message not only exempted people from the sacrifice of animals but also lifted the burden and opened the door for rethinking the meanings and objectives of these rituals. While sacrifice is a confirmed Sunnah, Islam prioritizes ease over hardship, and holds no harm or reciprocation as a principle. His Majesty, aware of the aims of Sharia, readjusted the collective focus towards this balanced understanding, harmonizing between text and reality, between faith and utility, and between belief and compassion.
Unfortunately, some voices failed to grasp the essence of the decision, addressing it with either mockery, defiance, or disdain. Some still see the holiday as an occasion for boastfulness, competing for the largest sheep to fill tables and capture lavish feasts, even at the cost of debt or psychological pressure, or even self-deception. For them, the decision is merely a wasted opportunity for a "barbecue season," forgetting that wisdom today requires putting off outward holiday displays in order to maintain its spirit. To delay the sacrifice of a sheep, so as not to slaughter dignity, conscience, and collective awareness.
Conversely, how much our country today needs collective consciousness that prioritizes the public good over individual desires, seizing the moment not to reject it but to invest in correcting what has deviated in customs. Patriotism does not mean drowning in appearances while forgetting the nation. Religious devotion does not entail embarrassing the poor or exerting social pressure in the name of tradition, or obliging people with what they have not been commanded by God in this difficult circumstance.
This occasion could be a turning point. A chance to nurture detachment, solidarity, and family ties, not just through meat. Those who wish to genuinely celebrate the holiday should make their wealth a support for those who have none. They should slaughter their selfishness, not just their sheep. They should reconsider their intentions, not just their budgets. Because the essence of the sacrifice lies not in bloodshed, but in hearts. In piety, in compassion, in the sound estimation of the community’s interest.
The call of His Majesty, exceptional in its content and timing, serves as a profound lesson in wisdom and foresight, granting us an opportunity to rediscover meaning amidst the congestion of habit. We must rise to the level of this vision and prove that Moroccans are capable of recognizing their priorities, and that they know when to place spirit above material, and common good over appearances.
A holiday without sacrifice does not equate to a holiday without joy; rather, it is an invitation to a different kind of joy, one that is more mature, sincere, and expansive. The true holiday cannot be measured by the size of the barbecue, but by how much we contribute to alleviating the suffering of others, and by the purity of our intention, the vitality of our conscience, and the courageous stance we take in favor of humanity rather than the feast.
