A few days ago, King Mohammed VI of Morocco issued a decision to ban the slaughter of sacrificial animals this year due to the drought that severely affected livestock in the country. The drought had caused a 38 percent decrease in livestock numbers, leading to a sharp rise in meat prices, which impacted those with limited and moderate incomes. As the Commander of the Faithful, he holds the authority to take actions that benefit his people and his country. Also, as a king, it is his responsibility to protect Moroccans from any crises that could affect their livelihoods, economy, and social well-being. The culture of sacrifice in Morocco differs from that of the Arab East for several social reasons.
In Morocco, it is common for the poor to strive to slaughter sacrificial animals, regardless of their financial situation, which often burdens them with huge expenses. Sometimes, people sell some of their household furniture to practice this ritual. Social customs and the desire to imitate others often lead to embarrassment, and prompt them to prove they are no less than others. When the price of a kilogram of meat ranges between 100 and 150 dirhams (roughly 10 to 15 US dollars), it puts a strain on the family budget under normal circumstances. The situation worsens during Eid al-Adha and other social occasions when demand for livestock increases, which further escalates the living costs for Moroccans. By the way, this is not the first time a royal decree has been issued to ban the slaughter of sacrificial animals and limit the sacrifice of the Commander of the Faithful, the King of Hearts.
During the reign of the late King Hassan II (May God have mercy on him), he had recommended refraining from slaughtering sacrificial animals three times in the years 1963, 1981, and 1996, for the same reasons. It is well known that many citizens slaughter more than one sacrifice to show off. A large segment of people with limited incomes end up borrowing from usurers or banks to afford the sacrifice, only to face the burden of repaying the debt along with interest. In the past decades, particularly during the reign of the late King Hassan II (May God have mercy on him), the price of a sacrificial animal ranged between 200 and 300 dirhams, which was a substantial amount at the time. Today, the price has risen to over 600 dirhams and, in some cases, even reaches up to 10,000 dirhams.
This amount is beyond the reach of most Moroccans, except for the wealthy. From a religious and legal perspective, the sacrifice is a confirmed Sunnah for those who can afford it and are above the poverty threshold, with the means to pay Zakat. The sacrifice is intended to benefit the poor and needy. The donor’s primary concern is to seek the reward from God, not to show off. God Almighty said in the Holy Quran: “Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship”. He also said: “Allah intends to lighten your burden, and man was created weak.”
Therefore, alleviating the burden on the people is the task of the ruler. In this spirit, King Mohammed VI (May his glory last forever) sought to do so, as reflected in his royal statement: “Taking into consideration that Eid al-Adha is a confirmed Sunnah, and given that affording the cost of performing it under these difficult circumstances would cause real harm to large segments of our people, especially those with limited incomes.” And because God Almighty said in the Holy Quran: “Allah burdens not anyone beyond his or her capacity,” King Mohammed VI sought to make things easier for his people, not harder. There is no doubt that the royal statement reflects the great wisdom of a king who carefully considers the circumstances of his people, even in the smallest details.
