Eid
CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT
SUNNAHS OF ‘EID
O Allah (The Exalted) bless our lord and master Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) by morning and by the evening.
Islam has granted us two such days throughout the year in which we celebrate and remember Allah (The Exalted). However, these days should be celebrated according to the Shari’ah (Islamic Law) and gaining the pleasure of Allah (The Exalted).
Two better days
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) states that, “When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) emigrated from Makkah to Madinahtul Munawwara, he found that the people spent two days in making celebrations.” The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) asked, “What kind are the two days?” people replied, “In the days of illiteracy we made celebrations.” The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) remarked, “Allah (The Exalted) has given you two better days, one of which is ‘Eid-ul-Fitr and the other ‘Eid-ul-Adha.” i
Barada (may Allah be pleased with him) states, “On the day of ‘Eid-ul-Fitr, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) would not go to the ‘Eid Ghah1 without eating and on ‘Eid-ul-Adha he would not eat anything until after Salaah.” ii
1 Place of ‘Eid prayer
The reason being that ‘Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated after the month of Ramadhan and it was to show the followers that I am not fasting.
Hearts will never die
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) states that, “Whoever made intention of worship to gain reward on the night of ‘Eid, his heart will not die on the day, when all other hearts will die.” iii
Paradise is necessary
Mu’adh Ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) states that, “Whoever spends five nights in the remembrance of Allah (The Exalted) Jannah is Wajib for them.” Those nights are 8th, 9th, 10th Dhul-Hajj, ‘Eid-ul-Fitr, and 15th Sha’baan. iv
Bread made of Barley
On the day of ‘Eid, a person came to ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and said that, “Why are you eating bread made from barley, today is ‘Eid?” ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) replied that, “It is ‘Eid for those whose fasting has been accepted, whose sins have been forgiven, today it can be the day of ‘Eid for those who do not go against the commands of Allah (The Exalted).” v Allahu Akbar!
Unfortunately, those who celebrate ‘Eid in a way it is not to be celebrated should take heed. Did we pray every Salaah (5 times a day) on its time throughout the blessed month of Ramadan, did we complete the Qur’an at least once, did we control our tongue from backbiting and swearing etc, did we pray every Tarawih prayer completed 20 cycles every day, or was Ramadan just about staying hungry and continuing to do those things that we were doing outside Ramadan? Then think are we really worthy of celebrating ‘Eid and how compare it with how the pious would celebrated it. Ramadan is meant to be a time for spiritual training for the next 11 months, however, the day of ‘Eid day for many has become such that Salaah is missed and we make a show of our selves to the non-Muslim community that this is Islam, we forget the teaching of the Qur’an, the Salaah we prayed has made no effect on ourselves and we have not become better Muslims. O People! Understand the teachings of the Qur’an and the Sunnah and become better people then only you will become good Muslims.
‘Eid is when the fast has been accepted
People went to the court of the Caliph of the time ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), they saw the doors were closed and ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was crying. People were surprised and said, “O Leader of Muslims! You should be celebrating today, what is the reason for crying?” 2 www.GardensOfSunnah.co.uk
‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) replied, “O people! This is the day of ‘Eid and today whosoever has their Salaah and fast accepted no doubt for them it is ‘Eid today. However, whose Salaah and fasting may not be accepted and thrown on their faces, for those it is the day of sorrow, I am crying in the fear that I do not know if I have been accepted or rejected.” Allahu Akbar!
Think for a minute, how did the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) and the companions spend ‘Eid and how have we been spending our ‘Eid. Of course, it is a day of happiness this is the reason why Allah (The Exalted) has made an extra Salaah to be prayed which is necessary (wajib). It is unfortunate that people will go to the ‘Eid prayer but will miss their Fajr Salaah which is Fardh, not only that but the rest of the Salaahs are also forgotten during the day. Being Muslims we should celebrate ‘Eid in a manner that pleases Allah (The Exalted) and the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) and ask for forgiveness from Allah (The Exalted) and pray that He accepts our fasting and Salaah.
Wahab bin Munabih states, “Whenever ‘Eid comes the Shaytan cries aloud. Seeing his state the other Shayateen gather and enquire the reason for being so sad. He says Allah (The Exalted) today has forgiven the followers of the Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) hence, make them busy in their desires (i.e. sins).” vi
Hair and nails
Umme Salma (may Allah be pleased with her) reports that, “The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, ‘He who sees the new moon of the month of Dhul Hajj and intends to offer sacrifice should not cut his hair or nails until after the sacrifice.” vii
If you are going to perform Qurbani then it is desirable (Mustahhab) that from the first to the tenth of Dhul Hajj not to cut your hair or your nails. viii This implies that it is better not to cut the hair or nails, but there is no sin if one does. It is rewarding if one desists.
What is Takbeer Tashreeq
The Takbeer Tashreeq is called from the ninth of Dhul Hajj from Fajr to the thirteenth of Dhul Hajj ‘Asr, after every Fardh Salaah that is prayed via main Jamaat and to call it once loudly is Wajib and three times is better. The Takbeer Tashreeq is as follows ‘Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar La ilaha illallah Wallahu Akbar Allahu Akbar Walillahil Hamd.’ ix (Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, There is no deity besides Allah and Allah is the Greatest and all praise is due to Allah).
The Takbeer Tashreeq is Wajib as soon as the Salaam is performed, meaning until an act has not been performed which takes him away from Salaah such as if he broke his ablution deliberately or walked outside the Mosque then the Takbeer is void but if the ablution broke on its own accord then you should still say the Takbeer. x
For Whom is Takbeer Tashreeq Wajib and when is it Wajib?
Takbeer Tashreeq is Wajib upon those who live in the city or a person who has made the intention of staying in the city, whether it be a woman, a traveller or a person who resides in a village and if these people do not make the intention of staying in the city then the Takbeer is not Wajib upon them. xi
Takbeer Tashreeq is also Wajib after the Jumu’ah Salaah but not after Nafl or Sunnats, however, you should also say it after ‘Eid Salaah. xii
Rules of ‘Eid Salaah
‘Eid (meaning Fitr and ‘Eid ud Duha) Salaah is Wajib but not for all. It is only Wajib for those for whom Jumu’ah is Wajib and the conditions for it are the same as those for Jumu’ah except in Jumu’ah the Khutba is Wajib and for ‘Eid it is Sunnah. xiii
To miss the ‘Eid Salaah without reason is mis-guidance and Bid’ah. xiv
You should not say the Takbeer in a loud voice on the way to the ‘Eid Gaah. xv
There is no harm in going to the ‘Eid Gaah on a conveyance but those who have the strength to walk then it is better to do so and there is no harm to return back on a conveyance. xvi 3 www.GardensOfSunnah.co.uk
The time of ‘Eid Salaah starts once the Sun is at the height of a spear and the time remains until midday day. However, it is better to delay the ‘Eid-ul-Fitr Salaah and to pray the ‘Eid-ud-Doha early, and if the time reaches midday before performing Salaam then the Salaah will not count. xvii When referring to midday it means midday according to Shariah.
Method of praying ‘Eid Salaah
The method is to make intention for ‘Eid-ul-Fitr or ‘Eid-ud-Doha for two Cycles Wajib and then lift your hands up to your ears and say ‘Allahu Akbar’ and then fold them below the navel as normal.
Now pray ‘Thana’ and then say Allahu Akbar and lift your hands upto your ears and release them and again lift your hands and say Allahu Akbar and release them again and then lift your hands again and say Allahu Akbar and then fold them. Meaning fold your hands after the first and fourth Takbeer and the second and third Takbeers release your hands. The best way to remember is that if there is something to pray after the Takbeer then fold your hands and where there is nothing to pray release your hands and leave them on the side.
After folding your hands after the fourth Takbeer the Imam will quietly pray A‘udhubillah’ and ‘Bismillah’ and then he will pray ‘Alhamdu’ and a Surah loudly and then go into Ruku and Sajdah and complete one cycle.
Then in the second cycle the Imam will first pray the Alhamdu and a Surah then lift your hands to your ears and say Allahu Akbar and release them and do not fold them and repeat this twice more, therefore a total of three times and on the fourth time say Allahu Akbar and without lifting your hands go into Ruku.
This therefore means that in ‘Eid Salaah there are six extra Takbeers, three before Qirayat (recitation) and after Takbeer-e-Tahrima in the first Ruku and three after Qirayat in the second cycle and before the Takbeer for Ruku.
Coming late
If someone joins in the first cycle after the Imam has prayed the Takbeers then they should say all the three extra Takbeers together even if the Imam has started the Qirayat. xviii
If you caught the Imam in Ruku then first of all say the Takbeer-e-Tahrimah and then if you know that you can pray the three extra Takbeers before the Imam lifts his head from the Ruku then pray the three Takbeers and then join the Imam in Ruku and if you fear that if you stayed to pray the three Takbeers the Imam would lift his head from Ruku then go straight into Ruku and without lifting your hands pray the three Takbeers quietly in Ruku and whilst you were praying the three Takbeers the Imam lifted his head from Ruku then you should also lift your head and leave the remaining Takbeers as these no longer need to be prayed. xix
If you joined in the second cycle then pray the first cycle’s Takbeer when you stand to pray the missed cycle. xx
If you joined in after the Imam had come back up from Ruku then do not say the Takbeers at this stage but pray them when you pray the missed cycle. xxi
If you joined the Salaah in the last cycle just before the Imam performed Salaam then pray your both Cycles with Takbeers when you stand up. xxii
Manners of ‘Eid
1. To rise earlier than usual.
2. To cut the hair and the nails.
3. To have a bath.
4. To brush the teeth with Miswak.
5. To be dressed in an Islamic manner.
4 www.GardensOfSunnah.co.uk
i Mishkat
ii Ibn Majah
iii ibid
iv Isbahani
v Ghunyatul Talibeen
vi Muqashifatul Quloob
vii Muslim
viii Radd-ul-Mohtar, Bahar
ix Tanweerul Absar, Bahar
x Radd-ul-Mohtar, Durr-e-Mukhtar, Bahar
xi Durr-e-Mukhtar, Bahar
xii Durr-e-Mukhtar
xiii Qazi, Alamgiri, Durr-e-Mukhtar
xiv Bahar
xv Durr-e-Mukhtar, Radd-ul-Mohtar, Bahar.
xvi Johra, Alamgiri, Bahar
xvii Hidaya, Qazi Khan, Durr-e-Mukhtar
xviii Alamgiri, Durr-e-Mukhtar
xix Alamgiri etc.
xx ibid
xxi ibid
xxii ibid
xxiii Ehkam-e-Shariat/Fatawa-e-Radhwiyya
6. To dress in one’s best clothes (not necessarily new).
7. To wear one silver ring (the weight should be less than four grams). xxiii
8. To use ‘Itr (non-alcoholic fragrance, and males only).
9. To pray the Fajr Salaah in the Mosque in your area.
10. To go to the place of ‘Eid Salaah early.
11. To walk to the place of ‘Eid Salaah and in accordance with the Sunnah.
12. To perform ‘Eid-u-fitr Salaah at the ‘Eid-ghah.
13. Before ‘Eid Salaah eat an odd number of dates or anything sweet.
14. To show happiness.
15. To give Sadaqah (charity).
16. To recite ‘takbeeraat’ on the way to the place of prayer.
17. To use a different route to and from the place of ‘Eid Salaah.
18. To greet one another on ‘Eid day with the words: ‘Eid Mubarak!
May Allah (The Exalted) give us the ability to celebrate ‘Eid according to the Sunnah, Ameen.