Demand for beef has increased significantly at Sonar Para market in Cox’s Bazar ahead of Shab-e-Qadr, with traders reporting a sharp rise in sales compared with normal days.
A visit to the market on Friday showed that beef sales had nearly tripled as many people crowded the market to buy meat for iftar and dinner preparations.
Beef seller Jamal Hossain said that demand usually increases every year on the occasion of Shab-e-Qadr as many families prepare special dishes for the night.
“From early morning, we have been seeing more customers than usual. People are buying beef mainly for iftar and for cooking special meals at night,” he said.
Although there is no religious obligation in Islam to eat any specific food on this night, scholars say that consuming beef is permissible. However, they also remind people that since the night is dedicated to worship, excessive eating should be avoided. They advise people to eat moderately and choose easily digestible foods for better health.
Shab-e-Qadr is considered one of the most sacred nights in the Qur’an and is described as better than a thousand months.
Muslims believe that on this blessed night, divine mercy and blessings descend upon the earth, and believers seek closeness to Allah through prayers, recitation of the Qur’an, remembrance, and supplication.
It is also believed that the Qur’an was first revealed during this night in the holy month of Ramadan. Devout Muslims, therefore, prepare to spend the night in mosques and at home, offering prayers and engaging in various acts of worship.
Local residents said that while food arrangements are common, the main focus of the night is worship, urging people to focus more on prayers than on elaborate meals.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Hussain Shetu
