A Painful World

yemenat

Ahmed Saif Hashed

The Eid sheep that I tended and cared for, with whom I shared day by day, became a close companion. Why are they slaughtering it?! I watched it on Eid, tense and frozen in place, refusing to leave its pen and part with its family, which seemed highly anxious, as if sensing that something unwelcome was imminent. Meanwhile, I was overwhelmed with pain and choked by outrage!

I witnessed them forcing it down, compelling it to walk against its will, as if it understood that it was going to be slaughtered and skinned. I saw it filled with fear and terror… My eyes observed the scene, silently protesting in a way that felt like it might explode, while tears and sobs lodged in my throat, opposing the grim reality, and I struggled to suppress them as best I could.

Its eyes were wide with fright, horrified by the knife held by its intended killer. I saw it urinate twice in quick succession in the same spot. Its bladder was living moments of dread, perhaps trying to protest in its own way! Moments later, I saw it pacing in the same area, a rope around its neck, pulled tight by another hand that prevented it from moving more than two steps.

It was overtaken by moments of anxiety, terror, and confusion as it wandered the small space it was not allowed to exceed, as if searching for a way to escape, yet there was no escape from the knife on Eid day!

Muslim slaughter occasions are numerous; some are unavoidable and obligatory, while others fall into the realm of symbolism. The knife here does not betray or turn back, and nothing changes the situation.

There is no place for the saying “from gallows to gallows, relief comes,”