Come Eidul Azha and we hear almost everyone complaining vociferously about the filth left behind after qurbani, but we hardly realise that the main reason for the waste being there is that we have thrown it there. It is a matter of common sense that if we dispose of the waste properly, naturally our area will not become a pit of rotting flesh and a slaughterhouse stench.

This Baqr Eid, let’s resolve to sacrifice only meat for Allah’s pleasure and not sacrifice our area’s cleanliness. After all, cleanliness is next to Godliness, and if we want our qurbani to be meaningful then we must make sure it’s done the right way — with a purpose to help others, not leave a mess behind and create problems for others, for that would surely take away from our good act.

 A few very simple proactive steps can keep each home clean, and that can add up to a clean street, clean neighbourhood, clean city and clean country.

Individual and collective steps can be taken to ensure that our surroundings are left clean after sacrifice

In your home:   — If doing the qurbani at home, do it within your boundary walls, not outside your gate and not even near the gate, to ensure the spill does not cross your gate into the street.

— It is best to slaughter the animal in the lawn or a flowerbed if you have one. Zahrah Nasir advises that you can collect the blood in a large bucket, dilute it (one part blood to nine parts water) and use it as an iron/mineral rich liquid fertiliser, especially for trees, shrubs and roses. Do not add any blood/entrails to the compost bin/pit/heap as this would attract vermin of all kinds. Entrails can be buried (quite deep so they are not dug up by scavengers and their putrid smell cannot emerge) close to tree roots. They will decompose over time and feed the plants/soil in the process.

Make it clean and short

— If you have only cemented areas, do the sacrifice near a drain so that you can wash off all waste easily. Keep a hose pipe, brooms, wipers and mops ready to wash off all stains before they dry up and become an oasis for flies. Make sure the water flows into the drain inside your boundary wall and not onto the street, where it can collect and create a cesspool of bloody water which is an extremely unhygienic health hazard.

After all, cleanliness is next to Godliness, and if we want our qurbani to be meaningful then we must make sure it’s done the right way — with a purpose to help others, not leave a mess behind and create problems for others, for that would surely take away from our good act.

— If you don’t have any area inside your home (and since the road is public property and does not belong to you) you can look for the nearest communal ground where you do have the permission to perform your qurbani in a legal way, as you would not want to invalidate your qurbani by doing it in any wrong way.

— Use large disposable sheets for seating the butcher chopping the meat, and dispose of these as soon as possible. Tell your butcher you want a zero footprint qurbani. A professional butcher may seem to cost more initially, but will actually be better in the long run as he will handle the animal more humanely, cut the meat properly and wrap up the work quickly, efficiently and neatly.

Leave the area clean

— While the meat is put away to be distributed or stored, bag the leftovers. Decide beforehand who will get the ‘siri’, ‘paya’, skin and other spare parts and pre-arrange the time and place for them to collect it as soon as possible.

— Put all the waste, including excrement and fodder, in a garbage bag and close the mouth of the bag. Cover the bag in a bin. Leaving it uncovered will attract scavengers like cats and crows who will undo your cleanup. Wait for the garbage truck to come to your lane to collect it. Do not put it outside your gate or throw it in the street or in front of someone else’s residence. If you do not want the refuse inside your home, find the nearest garbage trolley and place the bag inside this trolley. Do not throw it near or around the trolley. Explain this to your domestic help as well and emphasise that empty, open spaces are not garbage dumping grounds.

In your street and neighbourhood:

— Start talking to your neighbours before Eid about how you can work together to keep your street clean. You can create awareness of civic responsibilities and provide relevant guidelines to the residents to cooperate with each other for keeping their street clean through printed pamphlets, social media groups or by word of mouth. Emphasise that cleanliness of their environment is not possible without their active cooperation. 

In Sector 9, North Karachi, Adnan Ahmed and many residents of his area manage the area’s cleanup themselves and do not face any major problem after qurbani. Similarly in Nazimabad # 1 where his sister lives, the residents clean up their street after qurbani and make sure no mark of sacrifice is left behind.

 — You can send your neighbours gentle reminders if they fail to manage their qurbani waste. 

Often residents are not aware that their own domestic help is being lazy and irresponsible and throwing waste in front of some other residence, on the street or in some open space. If you are aware of this you can intimate your neighbours so they can train their help to respect others and not spoil and pollute the area.

With your local sanitation department:

— Help them help you by co-operating with them. They can only keep the area clean if you play your role as well.

— Be aware of their clean-up schedule so that you or your help are ready with your garbage for collection when they are in your street.

— Help them in monitoring the waste management operation by being vigilant and reporting any violations. If you find any trouble spots, report them to the sanitation department.

— Keep their numbers handy so that you can stay in touch with them if you need to.

 Following these very simple steps of common sense and common courtesy can make all the difference between a qurbani that actually helps others instead of one that becomes a hindrance.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, October 5th, 2014