Rising livestock prices pose challenge for Eid Al Adha celebrations

Residents look to community initiatives or send money home to participate in tradition

A man walks with a sheep on a leash in Iraq's southern city of Basra on Tuesday, ahead of Eid Al Adha. AFP

Muslim communities across the Mena region are facing significant challenges due to soaring livestock prices ahead of Eid Al Adha.

Eid Al Adha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, is an important occasion for Muslims worldwide.

The sacrifice of livestock, including sheep, goats and cows, happens before the Eid Al Adha prayer.

It commemorates a story from the Quran in which the Prophet Ibrahim was commanded by God to sacrifice his son, Ismail.

The command was said to be an ultimate test of faith and obedience to God. It ended with the angel Gabriel replacing Ismail with a ram at the last moment.

Inflation has made the tradition of sacrificing an animal increasingly difficult.

“I love sacrificing sheep in this occasion and everyone does, but it is becoming hard year after year due to rocketing prices and inflation,” Baghdad resident Akeel Hameed, 50, told The National.

At the end of 2019, Mr Hameed ran a successful business, owning a number of pastry and sweet shops in Baghdad.

But widespread pro-reform protests and the coronavirus pandemic had a devastating impact on the local economy, forcing him to declare bankruptcy.

“In previous years, we had no problem with the money, but now every penny counts,” said Mr Hameed.

Since late 2020, the prices of the majority of goods have increased by at least 50 per cent in a nation where the national poverty rate is 31.7 per cent in a population of 40 million.

With the price of meat up by at least 20 per cent on last year, escalating costs have placed a strain on individuals and families who wish to participate in the tradition.

Inflation, combined with other economic factors, have resulted in exorbitant prices that are unaffordable for many.

Many, including Mr Hameed, are relying on more affordable options to maintain the cherished tradition.

The mosque in his neighbourhood is leading an initiative to collect 25,000 Iraqi dinars, about $17, from each resident to share sacrifices – an initiative that has gained popularity in recent years.

“This collaborative approach not only reduces individual financial burdens but also fosters a sense of unity and community spirit,” he said.

Inflation affects remittances for Eid

Slaughterhouses around the world prepare for the event, but for some residents in the Gulf sending money to their home country for the Eid slaughter is cheaper.

Many Muslims, particularly in the West, cannot attend sacrifices themselves and often pay a charity or a relative living in a Muslim country to do it on their behalf.

The size and type of farm animal that is to be sacrificed is determined by each household's finances.

“Depending on their financial situation, people will buy the smaller or larger sacrificial animal, so every size of livestock sells in the market,” said Naeem Ali, a Pakistani expatriate living in Jeddah.

“Everyone will distribute and consume according to their needs and means. It is expensive for us to buy here so we send money back home for it.”

In Saudi Arabia, prices for sacrifices can range from 400 riyals to 1,500 riyals ($106 to $400).

On Jeddah’s Palestine road, Al Safa Halaga is one of the main marketplaces allocated to bringing in livestock for the occasion.

A Sri Lankan expatriate in Jeddah said sellers usually transport the livestock in lorries to the markets.

“I usually do my sacrifice in Sri Lanka due to the cheap conversion rate. It’s easier and cheaper for me and my family,” said Naleem Moin, a Sri Lankan resident of Jeddah.

Ashfaq Rana, from Pakistan, told The National: “The prices have been rising over the few years and now with inflation and tax more and more expats are sending money back home to get the sacrifice done there.

“I usually get the sacrifice done there on behalf of my wife and sons, who live in UAE, as well.”

Other residents and locals prefer to use the government’s official website Adahi.

“I trust the government’s portal and honestly it is the easiest and fastest transaction which we are lucky to have now instead of going to the market and dealing with the process,” said Salma Hashem, a Saudi citizen.

“This ensures our money goes to the right place and meals are distributed by the government too.”