As Eid al-Adha approaches each year, Muslims around the world experience a special spiritual atmosphere associated with reviving the ritual of sacrifice, as it is one of the most prominent religious rituals that embodies the meanings of closeness to God, social solidarity, and bringing joy to needy families.
In various Arab and Islamic countries, the days of Eid turn into a huge season for slaughtering sacrifices, whether inside homes or in slaughterhouses and markets designated for that.
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But behind this atmosphere of faith and celebration, another scene is repeated inside emergency departments and hospitals, where thousands of injuries resulting from random slaughter or unsafe handling of slaughter and sacrificial tools are recorded annually, especially with the insistence of many to carry out the slaughter themselves despite the lack of sufficient experience.
Estimates based on data published on the World Population Review and World Bank websites indicate that the number of sacrifices slaughtered during Eid al-Adha in 2025 exceeded 50 million heads of livestock around the world, a number that reflects the magnitude and breadth of this ritual in the Islamic world.
With this huge number of slaughter operations in a short period, the rates of injuries and accidents rise, which prompts health authorities annually to launch warning campaigns calling for adherence to safety procedures and seeking the help of specialists.
Türkiye… shocking numbers every Eid
Türkiye is one of the countries that annually records high numbers of sacrificial slaughter injuries, due to the widespread demand for performing the ritual inside homes and residential neighborhoods.
According to official data issued in 2025, Abdullah Emre Guner, Director of Health in Istanbul, announced that 776 infections had been recorded in the city alone during the first day of Eid, in addition to 420 infections in Kayseri Province, 293 in Sakarya, and 144 in Van Province.
According to Turkish media reports, most of the injuries occurred to unprofessional people who tried to slaughter the sacrifices themselves. The injuries ranged from deep cuts to injuries to the head and limbs, while some cases led to the amputation of fingers as a result of losing control of sharp knives.
These numbers were not exceptional, as in 2024 the Turkish Ministry of Health recorded about 16,000 infections during only the first day of Eid al-Adha, while the number exceeded nearly 30,000 infections during the days of Eid in 2023.
Specialists believe that the increase in infections in Turkey is also linked to the large number of sacrifices that are slaughtered annually. The Federation of Turkish Chambers of Agriculture announced that the number of sacrifices during 2025 reached about 3.35 million heads, including 750 thousand cows and calves, and 2.6 million heads of sheep and goats.
Libya and Egypt… casualties and repeated warnings
In Libya, burn and cosmetic hospitals and medical centers in several cities announced that they received about 1,650 cases of infection during the first day of Eid al-Adha 2025 as a result of the incorrect use of knives and cutting machines.
Data issued by the Misrata Medical Center indicated that the injuries ranged from superficial wounds to deep injuries that affected muscles and tendons, while some cases included more serious injuries that included fractures and cuts in major blood vessels.
As for Egypt, the Sharkia Governorate alone recorded in 2021 about 138 cases of severe injuries to the hands and various parts of the body due to misuse of slaughter tools during the Eid.
Data from the General Authority for Veterinary Services indicate that the number of slaughters in approved slaughterhouses during Eid al-Adha 2025 exceeded 34,000 heads of cows, buffalo, sheep, goats, and camels, compared to more than 30,000 heads in the previous year, which reflects the expansion of the scope of slaughter operations during the days of Eid.
Why do these injuries occur?
Occupational health and safety specialists believe that most injuries are related to three main factors: lack of experience, use of inappropriate tools, and lack of good control over the sacrifice during slaughter.
Cut wounds are among the most common injuries, and they often result from knives or saws slipping due to the accumulation of fat or blood on the hands, or as a result of using blunt tools that require additional force during cutting.
Hospitals also record many cases of bruises and fractures as a result of people being gored or kicked by sacrificial animals, especially cows and calves, when they are not restrained well or are provoked in the midst of noise and crowds.
Doctors also warn of the dangers of bacterial infection, as wounds can become contaminated with the blood of sacrifices or their waste, which may lead to serious infections if the wound is not cleaned and sterilized quickly and correctly.
Injuries do not stop at wounds only, but also include back and muscle pain resulting from carrying heavy weights or standing for long periods and taking incorrect positions during slaughtering and cutting.
Approved massacres…the safest option
Health and veterinary authorities in most Arab countries stress the importance of performing slaughter within approved slaughterhouses instead of in the streets or homes, because these slaughterhouses provide health oversight and professional safety procedures.
Slaughterhouses ensure a veterinary examination of the sacrifice before and after slaughter, to ensure that it is free of diseases. They also provide an appropriate environment for the safe handling of large animals and sharp slaughter tools.
The presence of professional butchers also greatly reduces the possibility of injuries or errors that may occur as a result of lack of experience.
Simple measures prevent serious injuries
Safety experts confirm that adherence to a number of simple procedures can greatly reduce accidents related to sacrificial animals, the most prominent of which are:
- Use sharp, safe knives with non-slip handles.
- Clean and dry your hands constantly during slaughtering and cutting.
- Wear protective cut-resistant gloves.
- Direct the knife away from the body and the other hand while cutting.
- Prepare the sacrifice well and seek the help of experienced people.
- Avoid slaughtering the sacrifice among children or large gatherings.
- Choose a well-lit, non-slippery place to perform the slaughter.
- Ensure healthy disposal of waste and clean the place constantly.
In the event of any injury, doctors advise direct pressure on the wound using a clean cloth to stop the bleeding, then wash the wound with soap and water or medical disinfectants, with the need to visit the nearest medical center if the wound is deep or the bleeding continues.
A ritual that requires awareness
Although sacrifice remains one of the greatest rituals of Islam and the one most closely linked to the meanings of mercy and solidarity, experts confirm that preserving human safety is an essential part of completing this ritual correctly.
Therefore, seeking the help of professional butchers, adhering to safety procedures, and slaughtering within approved slaughterhouses remain necessary steps to avoid turning the joy of Eid into injuries and accidents that could have been easily avoided.
