The Meccan Tragedy!  (My article dated April 22, 1997)

Why to rush in where we should fear to tread? In the name of faith and rites pilgrims congregate without being mindful of the inadequacy of convenience and its consequent threat to their own lives. Who is to blame for the death of the hundreds in recent Meccan Tragedy? With the shredding of crocodile tears for a week or so, the incident will faint and fade from our memory for ever. Be that as it may.

How many of us have given at least a passing thought to a parallel but more gigantic tragedy which had also occurred there about the same time? Four million lives were sacrificed in this holocaust which went almost unseen, unsung and unwept. The carcasses were burnt to ashes in huge burners in Minai.

Islam is synonymous with love, mercy and peace, it is said. Is sacrifice of poor, dumb animals at the altar of God a manifestation of these virtues? Does any God like to relish the meat of sheep and camels? Aren’t these animals His own creations? Would He need such an unreasonable offering from His followers? Has He not decreed that animals also have as much right to have their lives as human beings in His kingdom?

The essence of any religion is non-violence and peaceful co-existence. It is time we became humane to our fellow creatures and let others live as we do!