When are children allowed to watch the slaughter of the sacrifice? | family

The presence of family members at the scene of slaughtering sacrifices on Eid al-Adha is an experience of great importance and a revival of an Islamic ritual and Sunnah that carries positive meanings, as this occasion is linked to profound religious teachings and embodies the value of sacrifice and altruism that was evident in the story of the Prophet Abraham and his son Ishmael, peace be upon them.

However, involving children in watching the slaughter of sacrifices requires a careful balance between religious and educational guidance, and taking into account the psychological aspects of the child. Hence, a controversy has been raised over the past few days about the appropriate age and conditions for children to attend the sacrificial animal slaughtering experience, and how parents should take into account the psychological state of the child and the degree of awareness and comprehension required to understand that scene without leaving a negative impact on the children.

Annual controversy and multiple opinions

Regarding children attending the sacrificial slaughter experience, a discussion was raised on women’s groups on Facebook, as mothers disagreed about the appropriate age for children to attend the slaughter scene, and others found the experience unsuitable for children.

Engy Saeed, a mother of three children under the age of ten, does not welcome children attending the slaughter experience, but she believes that the participation of children in distributing sacrificial meat can be acceptable practical training in the concept of solidarity, helping the poor, and sharing in the joy of the holidays.

Meanwhile, Dalia Ezz completely rejects the experience, as she confirms that watching young children slaughter the sacrifice leaves a negative impact that lasts for years.

Dalia, a mother of a 7-year-old girl who lives in a European country, believes that the scene of slaughtering the cute animal that the child is attached to causes a psychological crisis in him. He may wonder why they slaughtered the animal that she played with a few days ago? Children do not have enough maturity to understand the concept of sacrifice, especially at pre-school age.

But Amira Muhammad, a mother of two teenage children, told Al Jazeera Net, “Children before the age of ten understand many life matters well, and learn many concepts through the Internet, school, electronic games, and friends, so how can we deprive them of participating in a law that carries valuable religious meanings?” .

Amira adds, “It is important to prepare the matter for children and explain the stories of the prophets in a manner appropriate to their age and level of understanding.”

She continued, “While I reject violent electronic games, today’s children spend hours every day participating in games that involve gang wars, killing, and weapons. Then, when it comes to a religious experience that has the meaning of redemption, we find those who say it will have a negative impact on the child.”

She added, “We must present pain to the child in its positive sense and not in the negative form of slaughtering a cute animal.”

Appropriate age

Safaa Salah El-Din, a psychological and family counselor, told Al Jazeera Net, “Every child is different from the other, depending on upbringing, environment, and personal traits, so the mother is the most knowledgeable about her son’s nature.”

She continued, “It is not preferable for children under the age of 10 to attend the slaughter experience, unless they live in an environment where they are accustomed to raising and slaughtering animals. This is because the child’s mind is not sufficiently developed in his early years, and therefore he does not realize the purpose behind this experience.” Which he may find painful and harmful to a beautiful animal.”

“Even some adults cannot bear to see a slaughter scene, so why force children to go through an experience that we do not know the extent of its impact at a young age?” according to Safaa, who advises not to force a child to attend a slaughter even after the age of 10 years. If the child refuses to see a slaughter scene, then he should not He should be described as a coward or put psychological pressure on him to witness the slaughter. It is best for the child to participate in the distribution of meat.

Safaa warned of some of the effects that follow children’s exposure to the scene of slaughtering a sacrifice. She says, “If the parents notice in the child symptoms of unjustified fear, increased anxiety, nightmares, disturbing dreams, or panic during sleep, a specialist must be sought to help the child get rid of these negative effects.”

Writer Nour Al-Huda, author of the book “Strong Mom… Your Guide to Your Journey to Build Your Little Man,” said in a post on Facebook, “Imagination is one of the characteristics of early childhood, which makes the child imagine the real scene in images greater than reality, and then feel fear greater than the level of fear.” Adult appreciation.

She added, “A characteristic of childhood is also imitation. A young child may try to use a knife to slaughter toys and dolls, which means the child engages in violent behavior.”

Regarding the appropriate way to prepare the sacrifice scene for children, Nour Al-Huda says, “Cognitive skills may be completed at the age of 10 to 11 years, but the child should be prepared at the beginning by presenting the story of our master Abraham and our master Ismail and the meanings it contains about redemption in a simplified way, and explaining that slaughtering the sacrifice has its origins.” And rules with compassion and mercy.

Dealing with feedback

Flexibility and understanding: Parents must be prepared to deal with children’s different reactions. Some children may be curious and want to participate, while others may feel afraid or upset.

Dealing with trauma: If a child is in shock or is severely upset, it is important to reassure him and explain the situation calmly. It is also possible to consider postponing his attendance to slaughter the sacrifice until he becomes more mature and ready.

Continuous monitoring: Observing children’s reactions before, during and after the event can help provide immediate and appropriate support. If parents notice any signs of severe distress or anxiety, they can remove the child from the scene, understand their fears, and offer support and containment methods so that they feel safe.