🙏Don't waste food; eat only what you need, not in excess, as the holy scriptures say🙏

       

                 In my parents' prosperous days, prayers like Muhayuddin Mouloud, Ratheeb and Kurban  were regularly held at home every three months. Two or three white roosters were bought and raised for these sacrificial offerings. These White Leghorn roosters developed many attractive features as the sacrificial month approached. They grew large tails and combs and became as spirited and charming as fighting cocks. They were very friendly with the family and would run to us when called, even from afar. Their constant, untimely crowing reminded us that the time for sacrifice was near.

             2️⃣On the morning of the prayer day, these roosters were placed in a large basket and taken to the Palayam mosque for halal slaughter. The mosque had a Muezzin who cleaned the ablution pond, called the Adhan, and performed other mosque duties. He also taught the children occasionally, transforming into a proper school teacher. I excelled in Quran studies during that period. The teacher was strict with the girls. Our Quran study period was limited to March, April, and May, when schools were closed. The teacher explained each chapter's meaning and context beautifully and conducted weekly written tests. Those who failed received a beating on their buttocks with a cane. As I grew older, I understood the reason behind these beatings for the girls. Being observant from a young age, I quickly recognized any impropriety.

Back then, the Imam and Muezzin of Palayam Muslim Jama Masjid received meager salaries. However, the Imam had significant influence through translations, income from Muslim ministers' homes, and other sources. Even then, the Palayam Jama Masjid had a grand reputation. The Imam, who delivered sermons in Tamil, was from Tenkasi, and we kept him in the position for about 25 years.  Those who completed the basic lessons (Qaida) and moved to the first chapter of the Quran (Juzu) had to give the teacher money, sugar, betel leaves, and areca nut in a small bundle.        

               3️⃣After placing the rooster in the basket and paying a small fee, the Muezzin would recite the Kalima, slaughter the rooster, and cut its throat. I couldn't bear to see the rooster's death throes and would turn away. Only the hard-hearted could watch the rooster's frantic struggle for life. In the past, children and women were kept away from the slaughter. Today, women are not afraid to watch such things, having seen videos of extremists beheading people on YouTube and WhatsApp. Whether human, animal, or bird, there is a struggle when the throat is cut, a desperate attempt to hold on to life. Some people find this entertaining. Today's youth, who share videos of people dying in bike accidents on Facebook and WhatsApp, show little respect even to the elderly. What manners can they have? The Muhyaddin Mouloud room and the pandal were decorated with clean, white, old mundus.

The room was adorned with jasmine and other flowers, like a bridal chamber. The prayer group also wore white clothes. The Mouloud, Quthubiyath, and Ratheeb ceremonies lasted until midnight. All our relatives who attended would eat and often stay overnight. We invited all our relatives and their families. We would invite Uthuvan Pillai Sahib and his group, who ran a shop near the Palayam mosque, for the Mouloud recitation. The house and rooms had to be thoroughly cleaned for the recitation and Dhikr. 

              4️⃣All the relatives and children would arrive the evening before. The women working in the house had the additional task of preparing food and drinks for them. Later, when we fell on hard times, those relatives disappeared.  On the day of the sacrifice, the sounds of "Ya Houd Ya Muhyaddin, Ya Sheikh Ya Muhyaddin Abdul Qadir Jailani" and "Muradiyaam Muradiyaam Muradiyaam, Muradishaikh Muhyaddin Muradiyaam" filled the air, creating a devotional atmosphere in Palayam. The Dhikr echoed throughout the neighborhood in the silent night. Until the 1980s, Thiruvananthapuram Palayam was a place where people of all religions lived together in mutual respect and unity. Everyone participated in each other's ceremonies, without discrimination. (I never saw anyone wearing a purdah or hijab in Thiruvananthapuram or nearby districts during that time. Today, discussions have begun in Saudi Arabia to change women's long dresses.) After the ceremonies, the relatives and participants were served Urotti (poori) and chicken curry. They were offered Suleimani tea with cardamom or milk tea. The family members were reluctant to eat the chicken, remembering the affection the roosters had shown. The room was closed for seven days after the ceremonies, filled with the fragrance of jasmine and rosewater.  We should feed the hungry, not those who indulge in excess. Feeding those who praise the cooks out of vanity only leads to loss, not gain. This is what we learned from our experiences.

                       5️⃣If you keep feeding them, there will always be a crowd of people pretending to be sincere and eating your food. You don't need to arrange special movie shows to attract guests; you will always have a crowd of relatives if you offer free meals.   Praying for everyone's well-being and a good heart. Avoid taking interest, harming others, or breaking promises. The Almighty will take care of the rest.

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