Muslim: cattle and tradition
Cattle at Eid al-Adha and the cattle markets that come before it.
In Islam, cattle appear in the Quran, in law and in the great festival of Eid al-Adha. The second and longest chapter of the Quran is Al-Baqarah, The Cow, named after a story in it about a cow the Israelites were told to sacrifice. At Eid al-Adha, Muslims who can afford it offer an animal in memory of Ibrahim, and cattle markets across South Asia, the Middle East and Africa fill in the weeks before. Islamic teaching also asks that animals be treated with kindness.
Al-Baqarah, The Cow
Al-Baqarah is the second surah of the Quran and the longest. It takes its name from a passage in which Moses tells his people that God commands them to sacrifice a cow, and they ask question after question about what kind of cow before they finally do it. Commentators often read the story as a lesson about faith and about making simple commands difficult. The surah covers many other subjects, from prayer and fasting to law.
Eid al-Adha and qurbani
Eid al-Adha falls on the tenth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, at the time of the Hajj. It remembers Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son at God's command, and the ram God provided in his place. Muslims who can afford it offer an animal, a practice called qurbani or udhiyah. A sheep or goat counts for one person, and a cow or camel may be shared by up to seven. The meat is shared with family, friends and those in need.
The Eid cattle markets
In Bangladesh and Pakistan, huge temporary cattle markets open in the weeks before Eid al-Adha. In Dhaka, markets spring up across the city, and in Karachi a large market grows on the edge of the city along the highway to Hyderabad. Farmers raise cattle all year for this season, and the biggest and best-dressed animals draw crowds. In Indonesia, Nigeria, Egypt and Türkiye, the same season brings busy markets for cattle, sheep and goats.
Care for animals
Islamic teaching holds that animals are part of God's creation and must be treated with mercy. Hadith describe reward for giving water to a thirsty animal and blame for cruelty. Animals for qurbani must be healthy and of a set minimum age, and should be fed, watered and handled calmly. Islamic law on halal slaughter sets out how an animal may be killed for food, and practice varies among schools of law and countries.
Worth knowing
- Al-Baqarah: The Cow, second surah of the Quran
- Eid al-Adha: The festival of sacrifice
- Qurbani: The animal offered at Eid
- Dhaka Eid cattle markets: Temporary markets across the city
- Karachi Eid cattle market: Large market on the highway to Hyderabad
- Hajj: The pilgrimage that Eid al-Adha accompanies
Sources and further reading
Original text by the EveryCow desk, written with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Customs are described as tradition, not as advice. If we have something wrong, tell us.
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