Grandma's House

If you need a sacrificial sheep in the near future, be advised that the price for a Sacrificial Sheep Coupon is going to be SR75 higher than last year. This story was amazing to me, in that I'd never really considered the procedures of modern-day animal sacrifice. Of course I'd studied the Old Testament and the rituals the priests had to follow. But I didn't know about "coupons" for today's sacrifices. Oh, yes, the price for camels is negotiable this year. These coupons are available through the Islamic Development Bank, who also oversees the distribution of the meat after the sacrifice.

This year more than 18,000 butchers will be employed along with 700 veterinarians and 600 Shariah students. The animals will be examined at all stages until they are skinned and refrigerated.

The IDB undertakes the distribution of sacrificed meat among the poor in the Makkah area. Large quantities are transported by land, air and sea for distribution to member countries and Muslim communities worldwide. This year some 629,600 animals will be distributed in 23 countries as opposed to 593,000 last year.