The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 290
Seal of the Prophets - Volume I 290 cannot be considered living. For example, with regards to sacrifice, Allāh the Exalted states: Meaning, “We have made the animals of sacrifice a means by which you may recognize your God, and have placed much good and blessing in them for you. When you tie them for sacrifice, mention the name of Allāh. And when they fall down dead on their sides, eat thereof and feed the needy and the poor. We have subjected these animals to you so that you may be thankful. But remember that the flesh and blood of these animals does not reach God, rather, that which reaches God is the spirit of your righteousness, with which you offer this sacrifice. Thus that you may glorify God for that which he has appointed. And O Messenger! Give glad tidings to those who worship in this manner. ” 1 Similarly, many sayings of the Holy Prophet sa have been narrated in Ḥadīth in which he has expounded that in actuality, the true purpose of Islāmic worship is the spirit. Therefore, with regards to fasting, the Holy Prophet sa states: ٗ مَن ْ لَم ْ یَدَع َ قَوْل َ الزُّوْر ِ وَالْعَمَل َ بِه ٖ فَلَیْس َ لِلّٰه ِ حَاجَة ٌ فِی ْ اَن ْ یَدَع َ طَعَامَه ٗ وَشَرَابَه Meaning, “He who fasts but does not refrain from falsehood and deceit, and acts as such, should remember that Allāh does not require his hunger or thirst. Meaning, in such a case, his fasting is not a fast at all, rather, he remains hungry and thirsty uselessly, for which he shall receive no reward. ” 2 1 Al-Ḥajj (22:37-38) 2 Mishkātul-Maṣābīḥ, Kitābuṣ-Ṣaum, Bābu Tanzīhiṣ-Ṣaum, Al-Faṣlul-Awwal, Ḥadīth No. 1999, Dārul- Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2003)