Tabaski : On a troqué la foi contre le m'as-tu-vu (par Sokhna Isseu Samb)
As Tabaski approaches, a festival meant to celebrate faith, submission to God, and solidarity, our country is sinking deeper into collective psychosis. Anxiety is etched on the faces of fathers and mothers, and fear has gripped the streets. Now, going out during the day is a risk, traveling at night an act of bravery. Senegal is losing its soul to the rhythm of police sirens and the cries of victims of attacks.
At what point did our country take such a turn? Since when has this once sacred festival become the source of the worst misfortunes for the Senegalese people?
The horror is no longer confined to street attacks; it has now invaded livestock pens and fairgrounds. Cattle theft has become a veritable criminal industry as the big day approaches. Farmers who have toiled all year and family men who have saved for years find themselves robbed in a single night by gangs of unscrupulous criminals. Recently, a spectacular sheep theft was nearly committed in the commune of Dinguiraye. The gendarmes bravely repelled the perpetrators. Today, owning a sheep has become a source of extreme anxiety, forcing citizens to barricade their homes or sleep outdoors to watch over their animals.
Yet, the Almighty, in His infinite mercy, has simplified everything. The sacrifice of Ibrahim is a well-defined prophetic tradition: let those who are able perform it; let those who are unable abstain. God does not burden any soul with more than it can bear. Nowhere is it written that a Muslim must go into debt, humiliate himself, steal his neighbor's livestock, or worse, assault and kill to obtain a ram.
Unfortunately, in our society today, faith has been traded for ostentation. "What will people say?" has become our new religion. We strive to acquire the biggest sheep in the neighborhood to outdo the others. We demand the most expensive fabric, the most dazzling jewelry, the most extravagant hairstyles, all so we can post statuses that last 24 hours. We have transformed a profound moment of piety into a superficial and materialistic competition.
In this downward spiral, families bear an immense responsibility. It's time parents stopped constantly complaining to their children, airing unbearable financial frustrations as the holiday approaches. How can such psychological pressure be placed on young people, many of whom are unemployed and have no stable source of income? These incessant complaints and excessive demands end up resonating with some young people as an imperative: they must find money or a sheep, by any means necessary. This pressure can drive some to violence, armed robbery in sheepfolds, or the brutal assault of innocent people.
Parents, it's time to return to the fundamentals of our education. Teach your children the culture of Soutoura (dignity in discretion) and Sante (gratitude to the Creator). Teach them to be content with what they have. No one forces you to wear the finest dress or sacrifice the most expensive sheep to be a good believer.
The response to the crime and cattle rustling that plague us every year before a holiday will not be solely a matter of policing. It must be a moral and familial one. If Tabaski preparations continue to be marked by bloodshed, tears, theft, and terror, then we have collectively failed.
Let us focus on the essentials of the celebration and fight against this destructive materialism that dehumanizes us. May this moment return to what it should never have ceased to be: a time of peace, sharing, and sincere devotion. So that never again will a Senegalese person lose their life or the fruits of their labor so that another can feign success on the day of the celebration.
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