Qurbani Aik Ehsass: Man shares his passion of raising precious animals for sacrifice

Speaking to Dialogue Pakistan, a man expressed his lifelong passion for rearing exotic and rare animals for Eid al-Adha.

The man said he has been fond of exotic animals since childhood and has always been interested in rare and unique breeds. He described this as part of Sunnat-e-Ibrahimi and said it is an annual practice and personal commitment.

According to him, the idea is to sacrifice animals that are rare, beautiful, and of high quality for the sake of Allah Almighty, as they are ultimately presented before His divine presence.

He explained that every year he keeps around two to three goats and three to four sheep. These animals are carefully sourced, as most of them are rare breeds. He said the selection process takes place throughout the year, during which the animals are collected and prepared with proper care and attention.

He added that he has a dedicated setup for the animals, keeping them in separate enclosures. While he also has space downstairs, other animals such as horses are kept there, and he prefers to keep the sacrificial animals separately to avoid any disturbance or fighting.

For this reason, he prepares and maintains them in a controlled environment throughout the year.

About 30 days before Eid al-Adha, the animals are moved to a different area for final preparation. He introduced several of his animals, including “Simba”, an American long-tailed sheep, which he described as highly mischievous and sometimes aggressive.

He also highlighted a Jacob four-horn sheep, noting its rare physical features, including four horns and a distinctive appearance.

He further mentioned a Sudanese imported sheep, describing its unique characteristics, as well as a Nigerian dwarf goat, known as one of the smallest goat breeds in the world. He explained that although people may mistake it for a young animal, it is fully grown. He added that he had imported a pair of this breed and raised them through home breeding.

He described this breed as unique in its movement, saying it appears to “dance” while walking compared to ordinary goats. He added that these animals receive special care, including a tailored diet, regular grooming, hoof maintenance, and daily cleaning, which he personally oversees throughout the year.

The man also explained that he prepares a specially formulated feed mixture containing around 27 ingredients, including grains, oilseed cake, chickpeas, rice polish, molasses, minerals, salt, and other nutritional components.

The man said he also keeps animals such as snakes, crocodiles, and lions, which are often considered difficult to keep. He expressed that he feels a stronger bond with animals than with people, stating that animals remain loyal and respond to affection.

He added that he personally carries out the act of sacrifice, acknowledging that it is emotionally difficult but considers it a religious obligation. He said that at the moment of sacrifice, memories of the animals come to mind, making the process emotionally challenging, but he believes divine strength enables him to carry it out.

He concluded by explaining that the purpose of Qurbani is to sacrifice what one loves most. For this reason, he spends the entire year raising these animals to build a bond with them, making the act of sacrifice more meaningful.