the meaning of this verse further, it means that Allah is saying: “O My servants! You left your homes, and people were watching you. You reached the cattle market, and people were watching you. You bought the animal, and people were watching you. You brought the animal home, and people were watching you. You took care of the animal, and people were watching you. You slaughtered the animal in My name, and people were watching you. You cooked the animal yourself, ate it, and distributed it among the people; they were watching you. In short, from buying the animal to sacrificing it, eating the meat, and distributing it, all your actions were in front of others. However, there is one thing that was only between you and me, and that is the condition of your heart. Therefore, the decision regarding the acceptance of your action will be based on this condition of the heart. It will be seen whether there was piety in your heart or not. The thing that is accepted by Allah is this very piety of the heart.”^[1]

O Devotees of the Holy Prophet! Now let us reflect. When we went to buy the animal, what was the intention in our hearts? While buying the animal, was the intention that "What will people say?" or was there a passion that "I will sacrifice the best animal in the name of my Lord"? When we reached our neighborhood with the animal, and people praised it, what was the condition of the heart at that time? When friends and neighbors asked how much the animal cost, what was the condition of the heart at that time? When we were comparing our animal with others' animals, what was the condition of the heart at that time?

In short, the meat in our sacrifice is what we will eat or distribute among people. The blood will soak into the soil. The skin will be presented to a Madrasah. The only thing that will remain is the sincerity of our heart, the piety of our heart, the spirit of obedience in our heart, and the love of our Lord present in our heart!

If these sacred qualities are present, then اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه the sacrifice is surely accepted. If these are not present, and in place of sincerity, there is showing off; in place of piety, the goal is to get meat; and in place of the love of the Lord, the goal is to show off one's generosity, then the matter can become very