ISLAMABAD: Rizwanullah was knocking the door of each house in Sector I-10/2 along with his seminary friends on the first day of Eidul Azha to collect hides.

Rizwan, 13, a resident of Upper Dir district was assigned the task by the administration of Sirajul Uloom, although he was interested in celebrating Eid with his family.

“I want to celebrate Eid with my siblings and parents back in my village Sheringal but I can’t leave the seminary without the permission of Qari Sahib,” Rizwan said.

“It is always difficult for the students to get holiday on Eidul Azha because they have to collect hides which we sell to meet the seminary expenses,” he added.

Many were tasked to collect hides from door to door

Rizwan said collecting hides was not an easy job but they had to follow the directives of Qari Sahib (teacher).

“I will play football along with my friends in the evening but I still miss my mother and sisters today (Eid day),” he said while tears were rolling down from his eyes.

Like Rizwanullah, Akmal Khan, 14, a resident of Shangala district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa succeeded in collecting around 15 hides on the first day of Eid for his seminary.

He has been studying in Darul Uloom Sabeelul Huda in Sector I-9 for the last three years.

“I was forced to to stay in town to collect hides on first two days of the Eid,” Akmal said.

“I received call from my mother and father before the Eid prayer today but I still want to go home,” he added.

“Do you know, my mother likes to cook Kabab for me on Eid day but it is difficult for me to go home on first two days of Eidul Azha,” he said.

Naveed Ahmed, 16, a resident of Balakot tehsil of district Mansehra has been studying in the same seminary for the last eight years.

“My family members including my parents and siblings died in October 2005 earthquake so my uncle got me admitted to the seminary,” he said.

“I spend Eid with my seminary friends because I do not have anyone back in my hometown,” Naveed said.

“Do you know, I succeeded in collecting some 24 hides on the first day of Eid for my seminary. I also visited market to eat burger with my friends because Qari Sahib gave eidi to all the students of the seminary,” he told.

Like Naveed Ahmed, Usman Ali, 18, a resident of Kotli in AJK said he spent Eidul Fitr at home but there was no holiday on Eidul Azha because they had to collect hides which was not an easy job.

When contacted, Maulana Azizur Rehman, the religious scholar at Sirajul Uloom told Dawn that hundreds of students belonging to different parts of the country especially from Hazara division, KP and the AJK were studying in the seminaries of the twin cities.

“It is difficult for the management of the religious seminaries to allow all the students to celebrate Eidul Azha in their hometowns because it is necessary for the students to collect hides which helps in meeting the expenses of the students of the seminaries,” he added.

“We allow all the students to spend their Eidul Fitr at their homes,” the religious scholar said.

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2014