Rituals
of prayer and rites of sacrifice are a part of every Faith. Indeed, those
aspects of Faith are its unique markings and as such representative of the very
distinct identity of a community- like the anthems and flags of a nation proud
in its independent existence. For Islam, the external
forms of ‘identity-markers’
of a Muslim includes: performing ‘Namaz’, fasting on Ramadan; feasting on Eid,
etc. Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) stated: ‘Whoever prays like us and faces
our Qibla
and eats our slaughtered animals is a Muslim.’
Yet, Faith is much more than just doing religious ceremonies in a mechanical fashion. In Islam, mere physical compliance to rites and rituals does not meet the requirements of piety. Even while explaining God’s sacred rites of animal sacrifice on the occasion of the great pilgrimage, the Qur’an states: ‘It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches God but your piety’. (22:37). The Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) said, “God does not look at your bodies or at your forms, but looks at your hearts”.