command of Allah, the servant’s heart should beat faster due to mercy, and his eyes should shed tears. This creates a state of tenderness and mercy in the heart.

Once, a Companion رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْه submitted in the court of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم: "O Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! I slaughter a goat, and I feel mercy for it." The Merciful Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied: "If you show mercy to the goat, Allah will show mercy to you.^[1]

Alas! Today, the situation is the opposite. People watch the sacrifice as a show. Some foolish people even clap while watching the animal struggle. Nowadays, during the era of the internet and social media, people record videos of struggling animals and make them go viral. May Allah grant us guidance! This is not a time to watch a show; rather, it is a time to shed tears due to mercy. One should feel envious of the animal's good fortune that it is being sacrificed in the name of Allah.

Dear Islamic brothers! These are the sacred and blessed qualities that should be in our hearts at the time of sacrifice:

1. Joy that we are acting upon the command of Allah.

2. Sincerity in the heart.

3. A feeling of mercy for the animal.

If we perform the sacrifice with these feelings and qualities in the heart, then اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه, the sacrifice will be accepted by Allah, and our faith will also become stronger through its blessing.

Demands of Sacrifice and Piety

Dear Islamic brothers! We have heard the Quranic verse:

لَنْ یَّنَالَ اللّٰهَ لُحُوْمُهَا وَ لَا دِمَآؤُهَا وَ لٰكِنْ یَّنَالُهُ التَّقْوٰى مِنْكُمْؕ-

Neither their meat nor their blood reaches the Court of Allah, your piety reaches His Court.^[2]