HIBAPRESS
The Facebook activist Elias El Kharrassi, known as "Sheikh Saar," sparked widespread controversy on social media platforms after discussing the comparison between buying an Eid al-Adha sacrifice and purchasing smartphones, considering that this type of discourse puts citizens under social and psychological pressure.
El Kharrassi criticized what he described as comparisons promoted by some intermediaries between the prices of sacrifices and "iPhones," pointing out that this pushes segments of citizens, especially those with limited incomes, towards debt to meet social requirements. He explained that the sacrifice remains a confirmed Sunnah and is not obligatory, which gives individuals the freedom to make decisions according to their capabilities, highlighting that purchasing a phone may have useful uses in work, communication, and seeking knowledge. He also considered that boycotting the sacrifice market in light of rising prices or the presence of speculation remains a legitimate option and does not contradict the glorification of rituals, but rather reflects a rejection of practices that harm purchasing power. The speaker called for directing the discussion towards issues related to fundamental obligations, instead of putting pressure on citizens in their material choices, stressing that dispensing with the sacrifice in difficult economic circumstances is not considered a religious shortcoming.
