Tell Me About Eid?
Approaching the day of ‘Eid, there should be mixed emotions for Muslims divided between the sorrow of the departing of Ramadhan and the happiness of welcoming the Islamic celebration of ‘Eid notwithstanding the obvious “lockdown”
Ramadhan is a blessed month that brings about the best in our worship, good actions, spending and taqwa.
The celebration of Eid is due to religious achievement. Therefore, with recharged spiritual batteries, we now have the determination to optimise our performance and celebrate the blessed day in the method shown to us in the Sunnah.
Here are some Sunnah practices and guidelines that will be rewarding to us in particular to the day:
The Night of ‘Eid
The night of ‘Eid is the first night after a month of restraint and training and is a considerably sacred night. For this reason, many of the Fuqaha have considered it to be Mandoob (Preferable) to engage in ibadah during the nights of both ‘Eid. Starting with the Esha Salaah in Jama’ah and ending with the Fajr Salaah in Jama’ah. Between these two virtuous ‘Ibaadah, the fuqaha have advised that the nights of ‘Eid be utilised in Dua, Salaah, Zikr, Tahajjud and reciting Quran etc.
Sunnats and Mustahab acts on the day of Eid
We would still do all these actions as best as one is able although being in “lockdown”:
1. To wake up early and engage in worship (Tahajjud) (Bukhari)
2. To eat something sweet (preferably, dates in an odd number) before proceeding for Eid al-Fitr Salah
It is Sunnah NOT to eat before Eid al-Adha Salah and it is desirable to eat from the meat of the animals slaughtered before consuming anything else on Eid al-Adha. However, if one eats before Eid al-Adha Salah, it is permissible (Bukhari)
3. To perform Ghusl (bath). The Ghusl should preferably be performed between sunrise and the Eid prayer (Ibn Majah)
4. To apply fragrance (Ibn Majah)
5. To brush the teeth using Miswaak (Ibn Majah)
6. To wear best [or new] clothes (Ibn Majah)
7. To give Sadaqah Fitr on Eid al-Fitr (before proceeding for the prayer) (Muslim)
8. To walk to the place of prayer if possible (Muslim)
9. To go to the place of prayer as early as possible and gain the reward of observing the prayer in the first row (Muslim)
10. To go to the place of prayer via one route and to return via another route (Muslim)
11. To express happiness by displaying obedience and gratitude to Allah (Al-Quran, 2: 185)
12. To smile at meeting a fellow believer or family member (Muslim)
13. To offer charity (Muslim)
14. It is Sunnah Muakkadah for the place of Eid Salah to be in an (Eid Gah) plain field (Raddul Muhtar)
15. It is Sunnah to continuously read the Takbir quietly whilst going to the place of Salah (Eid Gah) on the day of Eid al-Fitr and to read it audibly on the day of Eid al-Adha (Bukhari)
Note: It is Impermissible to fast on ‘Eid ul Fitr and on the 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul Ḥijjah, (i.e. on ‘Eid-ul-Ad’ha and three days after). (Tirmidhi)
Note: Generally, and particularly on the day of ‘Eid the intermingling of sexes is detestable and not allowed. Furthermore, the touching, kissing and embracing of non-mahrams are stringently impermissible.
The Method of ‘Eid Salāh (Hanafi Method)
1. Make niyyah (intention) of performing two Rak’aats Wajib of ‘Eid-ul-Fitr behind the Imaam, with six waajib takbeer (Abu Dawood)
2. The first takbeer in the first rak‘ah is the takbeer tahreemah which is followed by three waajib takbeer. Raise your hands to the ears in all four takbeer (saying the takbeer). However, after the first takbeer fold the hands under the navel and recite thana (sub’hānakallāhumma…). Thereafter, in the following two takbeer raise the hands up to the ears and drop them to the sides and after the fourth takbeer fold them again.
3. The Imaam will recite Surah-al-Faatihah and another surah and go into ruku’ and sajdah etc. as usual.
4. In the second rak‘ah, after the recitation and before ruku’, another three takbeer will be called. In all three takbeer, raise the hands to the ears and drop them to the sides, thereafter go into ruku’ when the fourth takbeer is called.
Note: Four takbeer are said together in each rak‘ah; at the beginning of the first rak‘ah and before going into ruku‘ in the second rak‘ah. The easy method of remembering when to drop the hands and when to fold is mentioned hereunder:
(a) Remember the following words: Fold, drop, drop, fold, for the first rak‘ah and drop, drop, drop, rukoo‘, for the second rak‘ah.
(b) Or keep the following general rule in mind: when there is something to be recited after a takbeer; the hands should be folded and when nothing is to be recited, the hands are to be dropped to the sides.
Some other Rulings:
• It is wajib to offer the prayer of Eid-ul-Adha and Eid-ul-Fitr. The Khutbah will then be delivered after the prayer.
• It is makrūh to offer any salāh in the masjid where the ‘Eid Salāh is to be performed, before or after the ‘Eid Salāh. (Muattah)
• It is also makrūh to perform any ṣalāh at home before the ‘Eid Salāh, but it is not makrūh after the ‘Eid Salāh. Hence, we should not perform nafl Salāh such as Ishrāq on ‘Eid day.
• If anyone missed the ‘Eid Salāh then he cannot offer it individually.
• Khutbah after the ‘Eid Salāh is sunnah. However, the listening of the khutbah is waajib.
• If anyone joins the ‘Eid Salāh after the Imaam has said the three takbeer in the first rak‘ah he should say his three takbeer immediately. If he joins whilst the Imaam is in ruku’, then if he has strong hope that he will be able to say three takbeer, thereafter join the Imaam in ruku’ then he should complete the takbeer before going into ruku’. Otherwise, he should join the Imaam in ruku’ and say the three takbeer instead of the tasbīḥ of ruku’.
Note: Whilst saying the takbeer in ruku’, he should not raise his hands.
Note: If the Imaam rises from ruku’ before one’s takbeer are completed, one should also rise with the Imaam and his takbeer will be remitted for him.
• If anyone missed the first rak‘ah and joined the Imaam in the second rak‘ah, he should say the three takbeer of the first rak‘ah after the recitation when he gets up to complete the missed rak‘ah.
• If anyone joined the Imaam in the second rak‘ah after ruku’, then he should perform two raka‘āts as mentioned above.
Sadaqat-ul-Fitr is an obligation for every Muslim, male or female, who owns 613.35 grams of silver or its equivalent, either in the form of money, ornaments, stock-in-trade, or in the form of some goods or commodities beyond one’s normal needs.
• Sadaqat-ul-Fitr is obligated on each adult male or female separately, and the relevant adult person himself is responsible to pay it.(Muslim)
• It is a Sunnah that the Sadaqat-ul-fitr is paid before performing the ‘Eid prayer. It can also be paid before the ‘Eid day, but it is not advisable to delay it up to the performance of ‘Eid prayer. However, if a person has failed to pay it on its proper time, he should pay it as soon as possible, whereby the obligation will stand discharged. (Muslim)
Adapted by: (Mufti) Abraar Alli
