JAKARTA — The camel qurbani program launched by Dompet Dhuafa as part of the Tebar Hewan Kurban (THK) 1447 H initiative brings a fresh perspective to this year’s Eid al-Adha celebrations. Not only does it offer an alternative form of qurbani sacrifice, but the program is also expected to encourage the public to gain a deeper understanding of the values and significance of the qurbani ritual.
Ali Bastoni, Chair of Dompet Dhuafa’s THK 1447 H, stated that the inclusion of camel sacrifices represents a new approach to engaging and capturing the attention of the Indonesian public regarding the act of sacrifice. He noted that the public has long been very familiar with the sacrifice of cows, goats, and sheep; thus, the presence of camels is seen as capable of offering a different perspective and experience during Eid al-Adha.
Therefore, the presence of camels is expected to spark public curiosity about the sacrifice ritual itself. From this curiosity, the public is hoped to become increasingly interested in understanding the values embedded in the sacrifice ritual, ranging from the spirit of sharing and social compassion to the meaning of sacrifice and sincerity.
“With these camels, people will start exploring the sacrifice,” he said.
Ali Bastoni believes that this approach is important so that the public does not merely view the sacrifice as an annual ceremonial activity. In his view, the ritual of sacrifice also carries a strong social and humanitarian message, particularly in strengthening compassion toward those in need. He said that Dompet Dhuafa aims to present a more relatable and relevant approach so that the public can learn about the sacrifice ritual in a way that is more engaging and easily understood by people from all walks of life.
“We want to introduce the sacrifice using camels as the focus so that the public can feel closer to and become more familiar with the sacrifice,” he said.
Beyond capturing public attention, the camel sacrifice program is also seen as capable of offering a new experience for both those performing the sacrifice and the beneficiaries. This is because camel meat is still relatively rare in sacrifice distributions across Indonesia. The inclusion of camel sacrifices is also expected to provide a distinct experience while broadening the public’s understanding of the variety of animals used for sacrifice in Islam.
Through this innovation, Dompet Dhuafa hopes the public will become more interested in learning about the various forms of qurbani rituals while understanding that the spirit of qurbani is not merely about the slaughter of animals, but also about the values of humanity, compassion, and the spirit of sharing with others.
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Additionally, this program is also expected to serve as a means to expand education on the sacrifice ritual among the public, particularly the younger generation who may not yet be well-acquainted with the various practices and social values inherent in the sacrifice ritual.
With the introduction of the camel sacrifice program, Dompet Dhuafa hopes that this year’s Eid al-Adha can serve as a new learning opportunity for the public to understand sacrifice not merely as a ritual act of worship, but also as a form of social compassion that brings broader benefits to others. Expand the benefits of sacrificial acts through digital.dompetdhuafa.org/kurban. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photos: Nurul, Hasuna.co.id
Editor: Dhika