Eid ul-Adha, the Muslim feast of sacrifice marking the end of the Hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca, is coming up at the end of this month. Muslims who can afford to do so are expected to purchase and slaughter animals and share the meat with relatives, neighbours, and the poor.

Because of local laws, Muslims in most Western countries have in the past been unable to participate in the sacrificial rituals; but this year is different, thanks to some entrepreneurial Pakistani Muslims.  You can buy an animal and even watch it being slaughtered online.

"It is not easy for them to buy animals and carry out the sacrifice according to our religious rites in those countries," said Sohail Ahmed, an official at the Al-Khidmat trust Islamic welfare organization.

"They are turning to the Internet to complete their religious obligations," said Ahmed, whose organization offers the service.

The “service” is also proving popular among Pakistanis.  Sometimes fulfilling religious responsibilities is just too much of a hassle.

"It is a matter of convenience. People nowadays don't have time to go to the markets and haggle over prices," [Farukh] Sheikh [of the Sahara trust for life] said.

"We are offering a service at competitive rates. People trust us to distribute the meat according to religious obligations among the poor and needy," Sheikh said.

Why go to all the inconvenience and bother of performing your Islamic duties yourself when you can pay someone else to do the heavy lifting?

Prices for sacrificial animals range from about $100 for a goat up to $450 for a cow.

I have a question: What would Mohammed say about this?

h/t: Subzero Blue and Global Voices Online.