Neither their meat nor blood reaches Allah. Rather, it is your piety that reaches Him. This is how He has subjected them to you so that you may proclaim the greatness of Allah for what He has guided you to, and give good news to the good-doers.
Hajj is about throwing off the shackles of laziness and convenience, sacrificing these and submitting to what truly matters. It teaches us the importance of prioritising Allah before our own selves. From Mina to Muzdalifah, sleeping in tents, walking in sandals, standing in ‘Arafat, shaving or trimming one’s hair, and casting pebbles at the Jamarat; Hajj teaches the pilgrim humility, sacrifice, and complete submission to Allah. Hajj trains the pi...
Every Eid al-Adha, ever since I was young, when I watch the sacrificial animals being slaughtered, a quiet thought comes to my heart: perhaps the knife is not merely meant to pass over their necks but over our own nafs. To slaughter the ego, humble our pride, restrain the urge to show off or seek praise, control our desires, and cut away things within us that distance us from ALLAH (s.w.t).
I realized that each year, this timeless ritual returns...
Every year, when Dhul Hijjah comes, the word Qurbani echoes in our homes and hearts. We think of the animal, the ritual, the meat shared and distributed. But I’ve come to realise that the true meaning of sacrifice goes deeper—it’s not just about what we give, but what we are willing to give up for Allah.
Allah says in the Qur’an:
'It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but what ...
Islam is not just about following rules, and it's not just our fasts and the prayers that Allah looks at, but rather it is the sincerity that reaches Allah, as Allah says:
How easy the Rab has made Deen for us. We can be enjoying all those delicious meals, the juicy fruits and those savory veggies, but all He needs is that we can be appraiser of his blessings by saying just a few words of Alhamdullilah. The belief of His highness, the belief to worship our such a gracious Rab, and to worship our Allah alone is how He wants to return the countless favors.
The distinguishing feature of Islam is Taqwa, which sets us apart from other nations and upholds our highest standard. The distinction between our sacrificial and fasting endeavors and those of the polytheists is Taqwa, it's as if Allah has laid out this highest standard and chose us for this superior cause. what an honor!
In essence, Allah has bestowed upon us the gift of Taqwa, which serves as a paradigmatic framework, safeguarding our sac...
These verses all focus on the reality of tazkiya or purification of the hearts. All the 'actions' mentioned in these verses, from praying, donating, and even butchering an animal and feeding the poor can happen in the absence of a pure heart. But then the element of what really matters in Allah's eyes, ie the 'piety that reaches Him' is absent. It is not about praying and giving, but rather prayer and charity. It's not about the butchering of an...