Qurban is a common muslim practice done for every 10 Dzul Hijjah. It is done by sacrificing cattle to feed the unfortunate – so it isn’t a sin to be unable to afford on of your own. When done full heartedly, the practice is also a form to show our appreciation to Allah SWT and a prayer for impending success. Additionally, the process of sacrificing the cattle is done the halal way: meaning that the killing process is only done once and in the most painless way possible.
Due to its efficiency and flexibility, most Indonesian muslims would opt for cows and goats as their ideal cattle. However, muslim families here would try to feed a bigger set of families, therefore the number once choice of cattle would be cows. Despite being the most accessible and affordable around the area, there are certain things muslims have to consider before choosing the right one. So, without further ado, here are the things to consider before choosing your Qurban cow.
1. Trusted Breeder
Perhaps one of the most important factor to consider before purchasing your own cattle would be their breeders and how much you would trust them to sell one to you. Choose the breeders you’d buy your cattle them wisely – because some would adopt unethical practices to raise them, which defeats the entire purpose of Qurban.
More so, smart ethical breeders would raise healthy and happy cattle. Breeders should be transparent with how they raise their cattle, and shouldn’t hide any harmful dodgy information from potential customers.
2. Muscular With Good Fat Levels
It is advised that muslims choose muscular cows with good fat levels to optimise their sacrifice. With a bigger cow, you could donate and feed more people with your sacrifice – thus doing more good deeds as opposed to purchasing a smaller and less healthy cattle.
However, an overall large figure does not necessarily mean that they are healthier as well. As previously discussed, do take the time to consult with the breeder and ask for transparency on how they had raised them. Some unethical breeders would inject chemicals that could potentially do more harm than good. In both theory and practice, muscular cows with good healthy fat levels are raised ethically.
3. Healthy
Another important thing to consider, as previously mentioned, is the cow’s overall health. They should be free from harmful illnesses such as diarrhoea, worm infestations, and more.
These illnesses may sound superficial at first, but without the proper check up and transparency, an untreated illness could develop into something more serious. These illnesses could be passed down to those who consume their meats. Healthy cows contains the right qualities for humans to consume without the fear of being sick.
4. No Disabilities
Branching off to their overall health, the cows purchased for Qurban should not have any forms of disabilities. Disabled cows could contain harmful illnesses and bacterias that could be passed down to those who consume their meat – which defeats the purpose on providing healthy nutrition in the form of meat to the less fortunate.
Cows can have multiple forms of disabilities, but several common forms found are cataracts, unstable limbs, and cleft lips.
5. Good Appetite
Before sacrificing your cow, be sure that they have a good appetite beforehand. Cows with a good appetite have a lower chance of catching harmful illnesses and diseases due to their strong and well fed immune system. Their overall healthy physique is often caused by the good nutrients and vitamins consumed in their feed.
It is the breeder’s responsibility to feed their cattle with the right feed that is packed with nutrient and vitamin. Breeders can opt for organic feed such as grass and fruits, or they could rely on processed food from their local animal shop. Whichever is their preferences, it is wise that breeders consult with medical professionals beforehand to know what is best for their cows.
Be sure to be informed about your cows’ eating patterns from their breeders before making the purchase. This information transparency could help you get your money and time’s worth.
6. Active
Just as important as getting the right nutrients, cows are required to be active to optimise their health. This includes stable walks and social interactions with their other healthy counterparts. Active and healthy cows are much less prone to catching illnesses that could be harmful to consume, so be sure to ask the breeders on what forms of exercise that their cattle has been involved in.
7. At The Right Age
Cows raised for sacrifice and consumption should only be sold if they are at the right age. Ethically, and according to the set rules of regulation, breeders are not allow to sell underaged cows to the public for consumption. On the other end, cows who have long passed their consumption age are not eligible to be sold as they could hold higher risk of contracting harmful diseases.
8. Bought Not Gifted
According to the islamic rules, the cows used for sacrifice should be bought by the person themselves and not gifted by others. This is a symbolic practice of sincerity and sacrifice that is shown by using the personal expenses the person themselves. As mentioned earlier, this is why the practice is not compulsory for those who cannot afford purchasing one of their own.
So this marks the end of the list of the things to consider before choosing your Qurban cow. For safety and health precautions, be sure that the cow you would invest on is raised by professionals and not found in the wild. Recklessly choosing your cows could do more harm than the intended good.
Most importantly, your Qurban sacrifice must be purchased with whole hearted sincerely and love. Sacrificing Qurban and giving them to the less fortunate is a muslim way of showing our gratitude to Allah. We wish you good luck in the preparation of this year’s Idul Adha.