Eid Al Adha Sacrifice Cancelled in Morocco: What It Really Means, And What You Can Do Instead
In February, King Mohammed VI made a heartfelt move to suspend the obligatory Eid al-Adha sacrifice for 2025, in response to deepening economic hardship and ongoing droughts that have affected livestock supply across the country.
At the heart of Eid al-Adha is not just the act of sacrificing a sheep.
It's the story of Prophet Ibrahim's devotion, his willingness to give up what he held most dear for the sake of God.
In other words, the intention (niyya) behind the sacrifice matters far more than the act itself.
'It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is your piety that reaches Him.'
This verse comes from Surah Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage), verse 37, and it's about the ritual of animal sacrifice during Eid al-Adha and Hajj.
Muslims believe that Allah is saying He doesn't need the physical act of sacrifice, as the meat or blood doesn't benefit Him. What matters to instead is one's 'taqwa' (piety, God-consciousness, sincerity).
The King's message emphasized this spiritual understanding, urging citizens to remember that Islam allows leniency in difficult times.
When hardship makes certain acts burdensome, the religion makes room for mercy.
A pressing need
Severe drought has significantly reduced Morocco's livestock supply (a 38% drop since 2016), and soaring prices have made it nearly impossible for many families to afford sacrificial animals.
Inflation and economic hardship have stretched household budgets thinner than ever.
According to a study by Morocco's Center for Economic and Social Studies, the cancellation could save Moroccan families over 20 billion dirhams (around $2 billion USD).
So, what can we do instead?
Even without the sacrifice, Eid Al Adha is still very much alive. Here are meaningful ways to honour it this year:
Redirect the money you would have spent toward supporting those in need.
Organizations like Jood, Inssaane, and Bank Al Taam are running food and aid drives.
Celebrate with couscous, dates, or a vegetarian tajine — what matters most is being together, not what's on the plate.
Eid is a time of compassion. Visit a neighbor, help a single mother, or call someone elderly who may feel alone. Eid prayer
Use this unique year to teach young people that obedience, generosity, and trust in God are the true pillars of this celebration.
Let go of a grudge. Forgive someone. Give up a bad habit. Spiritual sacrifices can be more powerful than physical ones.
What do Islamic scholars say?
Moroccan Islamic scholars have emphasized that the sacrifice is not 'fard' (obligatory) but Sunnah Mu'akkadah — a confirmed Sunnah that can be suspended in times of hardship.
In a world full of visible hardship, maybe the most meaningful sacrifices are the ones no one sees: patience, prayer, kindness, restraint.
So while the streets may be quieter this Eid, our hearts can still be full. Tags: "Feast of the Sacrificeeid al adha 2025morocco eid al adha
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Morocco World
6 hours ago
- Morocco World
Name Theft: Charity Leader Accuses Political Party of Exploiting Identity
Marrakech – Hind Laidi, president of Jood humanitarian association founded in 2015, has spoken out against the ongoing confusion between her organization and a similarly named foundation affiliated with the National Rally of Independents (RNI) party led by Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch. The controversy revolves around what Laidi characterizes as deliberate misuse of her charity's identity for political purposes. She never anticipated that her association's name would shift from a symbol of humanitarian giving into a source of troubles and misunderstandings for the public. In a video shared yesterday, Laidi clarifies that her organization was not established to serve political agendas or exploit the suffering of the poor. 'We have no political affiliation, and I don't believe in the effectiveness of party politics in Morocco. We raise only one slogan: God, Nation, King,' she notes. The situation worsened significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Laidi, authorities depended on her association to distribute food aid using a precise system based on official stamped lists that guaranteed transparency. However, the surprise came quickly when another foundation with the same name emerged, using similar mechanisms but in an electoral context. This sparked considerable confusion, with some citizens discovering themselves suddenly enrolled in the RNI party without their knowledge, simply because they had received food aid through 'Ramadan baskets.' This overlap obscured the distinction between the charitable 'Jood Association' and the party-affiliated 'Jood Foundation.' The misunderstanding extended to media platforms and social networks. Articles and videos – including a clip from journalist Taoufik Bouachrine – directly connected the association with the political party, using images of the charitable Jood Association's activities. Laidi issued formal warnings without results Laidi reports sending formal warnings to the party's foundation demanding a name change, but to no avail. Consequently, the association's Facebook and Instagram pages were flooded with negative comments and accusations, while many volunteers found themselves subject to attacks and doubts about their independence and credibility. Laidi personally contacted officials and visited the official office of the other organization, asking they cease misusing her association's name. Despite these violations, she has not pursued legal action. Most troubling to Laidi is that after Akhannouch assumed leadership of the government, alongside Abdellatif Ouahbi – who had ranked among the strongest critics of the 'Jood Foundation' – taking over the Justice Ministry portfolio, the climate of trust has become almost non-existent. The Jood Association president declines to have her work and her organization's image used as fuel for electoral campaigns. She maintains that exploiting charitable work for political purposes undermines citizens' trust in solidarity and reduces it to a cheap electoral card. Founded in September 2015, Jood began as a grassroots movement providing hot meals to homeless people during nighttime outreach efforts. The organization transformed in 2016 to become an independent non-profit association supported by individual donors and institutional sponsors. Initially launched in Casablanca, Jood expanded to create branches in Marrakech, El Jadida, Rabat, Tangier, and Essaouira. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jood mobilized effectively, delivering assistance to 13,455 families and supporting 14 temporary confinement centers throughout Morocco. In 2021, in recognition of its persistent efforts against precariousness, the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH) designated Jood as the lead network association for 'Beggars and Vagrants.' Following the devastating Al Haouz earthquake, Jood intensified its efforts to deliver vital support to displaced persons, offering safe shelter, food assistance, and essential services. The organization continues its humanitarian mission despite the ongoing identity conflict with the politically-affiliated foundation. Tags: Aziz AkhannouchNational Rally of Independents (RNI)
Ya Biladi
12-08-2025
- Ya Biladi
Spain's government challenges Jumilla's ban on Muslim celebrations over constitutional rights
The Spanish government in Madrid has issued an ultimatum to the city council of Jumilla (Murcia province) to repeal a recently approved measure backed by local People's Party officials. Proposed by the far-right Vox party, the motion bans the use of municipal facilities for Muslim religious celebrations, specifically Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha, the festival of sacrifice. If the ban is not revoked within a month, the government will take the matter to administrative court, Iberian media reported Monday, citing the socialist government of Pedro Sanchez. The government has condemned the measure as «racist», arguing that it «arbitrarily restricts» annual festivities and violates the constitutional right to religious freedom, including that of the Muslim community. Last week, Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration Elma Saiz stressed that her government would ensure «maximum respect for the Constitution». The Ministry of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with Parliament issued a similar statement and coordinated the revocation request with the Department of Territorial Policy. Minister Félix Bolaños also denounced the measure, calling it evidence of the «extremist drift» of the PP-Vox alliance. «We will put an end to their extreme measures, as we did against obstacles to abortion in Castilla-La Mancha or censorship in Murcia», he said. The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) echoed this stance through its spokesperson, Montse Mínguez, who on Saturday accused the People's Party of aligning itself with the ideology of the far right. She warned that this alliance «institutionalizes racism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia». Ban in Jumilla Targets Muslim Community While the PP continues to back the motion, the government has vowed to overturn it. Jumilla, a town of nearly 27,000 residents, is home to an estimated 1,500 Muslims. The city council defends its decision as a measure to protect «traditional religious values and practices». According to the government, however, the discriminatory intent is clear, both in the original text and in statements by the Vox spokesperson, who openly boasted about banning Muslim festivities. For Madrid, this is «yet another violation of fundamental rights and freedoms» by local and regional right-wing and far-right administrations, one in which the central government «must intervene to uphold the Constitution». The executive also argues that the justification for the ban is baseless, noting that the law allows municipal sports facilities to be used for «sociocultural activities». The government reaffirmed its «uncompromising commitment» to combating intolerance and defending «the Constitution, democratic values, and peaceful coexistence». It pledged to «politically and legally challenge any initiative aimed at undermining rights and freedoms and dragging Spain toward an authoritarian path, as seen in other countries governed by the far right». Criticism from the Catholic Church and Civil Society Beyond politics, the measure has drawn criticism from the Spanish Episcopal Conference, which cited the constitutional principle of freedom of worship, a position that Vox has rejected. In a province with a significant Moroccan community, civil society groups have also spoken out against the motion. Sabah Yacoubi, president of the Association of Moroccan Immigrant Workers (ATIM) in the region and national vice-president of the organization, told Yabiladi last week that the decision reflects a longstanding contradiction fueled by xenophobic and Islamophobic sentiment. She warned that the PP and Vox's rhetoric about «activities foreign to the people's identity» is «false and dangerous», especially given Spain's historical legacy under Muslim rule during the caliphate.
Ya Biladi
12-08-2025
- Ya Biladi
Spain's government challenges Jumilla's ban on Muslim celebrations over constitutional rights
The Spanish government in Madrid has issued an ultimatum to the city council of Jumilla (Murcia province) to repeal a recently approved measure backed by local People's Party officials. Proposed by the far-right Vox party, the motion bans the use of municipal facilities for Muslim religious celebrations, specifically Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha, the festival of sacrifice. If the ban is not revoked within a month, the government will take the matter to administrative court, Iberian media reported Monday, citing the socialist government of Pedro Sanchez. The government has condemned the measure as «racist», arguing that it «arbitrarily restricts» annual festivities and violates the constitutional right to religious freedom, including that of the Muslim community. Last week, Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration Elma Saiz stressed that her government would ensure «maximum respect for the Constitution». The Ministry of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with Parliament issued a similar statement and coordinated the revocation request with the Department of Territorial Policy. Minister Félix Bolaños also denounced the measure, calling it evidence of the «extremist drift» of the PP-Vox alliance. «We will put an end to their extreme measures, as we did against obstacles to abortion in Castilla-La Mancha or censorship in Murcia», he said. The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) echoed this stance through its spokesperson, Montse Mínguez, who on Saturday accused the People's Party of aligning itself with the ideology of the far right. She warned that this alliance «institutionalizes racism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia». Ban in Jumilla Targets Muslim Community While the PP continues to back the motion, the government has vowed to overturn it. Jumilla, a town of nearly 27,000 residents, is home to an estimated 1,500 Muslims. The city council defends its decision as a measure to protect «traditional religious values and practices». According to the government, however, the discriminatory intent is clear, both in the original text and in statements by the Vox spokesperson, who openly boasted about banning Muslim festivities. For Madrid, this is «yet another violation of fundamental rights and freedoms» by local and regional right-wing and far-right administrations, one in which the central government «must intervene to uphold the Constitution». The executive also argues that the justification for the ban is baseless, noting that the law allows municipal sports facilities to be used for «sociocultural activities». The government reaffirmed its «uncompromising commitment» to combating intolerance and defending «the Constitution, democratic values, and peaceful coexistence». It pledged to «politically and legally challenge any initiative aimed at undermining rights and freedoms and dragging Spain toward an authoritarian path, as seen in other countries governed by the far right». Criticism from the Catholic Church and Civil Society Beyond politics, the measure has drawn criticism from the Spanish Episcopal Conference, which cited the constitutional principle of freedom of worship, a position that Vox has rejected. In a province with a significant Moroccan community, civil society groups have also spoken out against the motion. Sabah Yacoubi, president of the Association of Moroccan Immigrant Workers (ATIM) in the region and national vice-president of the organization, told Yabiladi last week that the decision reflects a longstanding contradiction fueled by xenophobic and Islamophobic sentiment. She warned that the PP and Vox's rhetoric about «activities foreign to the people's identity» is «false and dangerous», especially given Spain's historical legacy under Muslim rule during the caliphate.
