In 2009 I did a price analysis of the cost of sheep if you donated it to different organisations just to see if everyone was charging relative prices. to see this analysis click here. Qurbani Price analysis 2009 when sending local and overseas via a charity organiation. In 2009 sheep donated in South Africa was 900 this here if you donate sheep in South Africa you are paying about R1500.
This year, I just can’t help but feel that prices seems to be increasing as the years go in South Africa, making it very difficult for ordinary people in the country to fulfil the obligation here. We end up sending away the Qurbani and we loose out on the spirit of Qurbani in our backyard. Yes we understand it is not about the money etc and as the ayah goes it is all about taqwa at the end.
22:37 (Y. Ali) It is not their meat nor their blood, that reaches Allah. it is your piety that reaches Him: He has thus made them subject to you, that ye may glorify Allah for His Guidance to you and proclaim the good news to all who do right.
But does this mean our taqwa needs to be exploited and must I pay way more than usual to ensure my obligation is fulfilled. Are the prices we are paying for sheep especially during Qurbani time fair? As a South African community I find we are sometimes very generous when it comes to charity and luxuries. But we don’t realise by paying such high prices we are making it very difficult for others who would love to fulfil their obligations but can’t because of such high prices. The prices are exorbitant compared to other places. Does this mean we must just pay any price even it sky rockets to fulfil our obligation. It seems that locally we are paying much higher then our neighbours We end up sending our Qurbani elsewhere and the true essence of Qurbani is being lost. This skyrocketing of prices happens with Haj and also happens with Dates during Ramadan.
Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Fear injustice. Injustice will appear as darkness on the Day of Rising. Fear avarice (extreme greed for wealth or material gain). Avarice destroyed people before you and led them to shed one another’s blood and to make lawful what was unlawful for them.”
Market trend analysis of Mutton
Lamb and Sheep prices per kg per size according to red meat association:
For example below in August and September 2013 an A0 sheep of 13.62kg was R32,53 per kg i.e R457 for that sheep. The highest sheep was about 28kg at R34 per kg which is R912. We are paying from R1200 till R2500 for sheep these days during Qurbani time.
click here to see the full years market indicators
I decided to do some further analysis of the market trend of mutton industry in South Africa and got some figures from the Agribusiness website. Here is what I was able to table from my limited understanding and knowing nothing about how the mutton industry works. But from what I see things don’t seem to be adding up from especially my point of view when I have to buy mutton or buy a sheep. The prices seem to be very constant through out the year. So why the high prices? Sometimes triple the market related prices and during Qurbani time even worse?
Some food for thought and Questions to ask yourself about Mutton industry?
So here is the prices for mutton/kg according to AMIE.
- How much are you paying for halaal mutton/kg ?
- How much do you pay through out the year?
- How much do you pay during Qurbani time?
- Laziness fees, petrol, feed prices, inflation included does the price you pay seem reasonable compared to market trends?
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