Respect Hindu Sentiments, Obey Law”: Jamiat Ulema’s Bakrid Advisory Backs Cow as National Animal, Bans Social Media Posts of Sacrifice.

New Delhi,Ahead of Bakrid (Eid-ul-Azha), Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind President *Maulana Syed Arshad Madani* on Saturday issued detailed guidelines for Muslims and renewed the demand to declare the cow as India’s ‘national animal’.

Key points from Jamiat’s Bakrid guidelines:

Follow the law: “Sacrifice of animals prohibited by law should be strictly avoided,” Madani said. He urged Muslims to comply with government regulations and local administration rules on purchase, sale, and transportation of sacrificial animals.

No cow sacrifice: Former Babri Masjid litigant *Iqbal Ansari backed Madani, saying: “Nowhere is there a mention about cows being sacrificed, and it should not take place either, because Allah and the Prophet have prohibited it.” He appealed to the government to declare cow as national animal. 9971

Cleanliness & public harmony: Animal remains must not be thrown on roads, streets, or drains. Use plastic bags and designated spots. “Full cooperation should be extended to municipal and sanitation workers”. 

No social media sharing “Sharing photos and videos of sacrifice on social media should be strictly avoided”. 

Avoid provocation: If faced with threats from communal elements, “exercise patience, restraint… and immediately file a complaint with police. Under no circumstances should the law be taken into one's own hands”. 

Qurbani is obligatory: “Sacrifice is an important Islamic act of worship, obligatory on every Muslim of means. There is no alternative to it during the days of sacrifice”. 

Cow as National Animal demand:

Madani said: “The government should give national animal status to the cow and we will support it”. He cited an “atmosphere of fear” due to violence by ‘gau rakshaks’ and said young vigilantes are “exploiting religion to loot and murder people”. 

Other clerics join call:

Priests from Ajmer Dargah Sharif, Nakhoda Masjid Kolkata*, and *Islamic Centre of India Lucknow* issued similar 12-point advisories. Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali said: “No qurbani should be done on cows as it is against the law of the land”. Assam Jamiat chief *Badruddin Ajmal* also urged Muslims not to sacrifice cows so “religious feelings of Hindus are not hurt”.

Context: State govts in Delhi, UP, West Bengal, and Assam have warned that cow slaughter during Eid-ul-Azha, slated for May 28, could invite punitive action. 

Why it matters: Muslim scholars say a uniform central law banning cow slaughter could end acrimony. “We have been demanding a central law to ban cow slaughter… so that acrimony over the issue gets settled,” Madani told .