By Sh. Abdur Rahman Khan
 
As Ramadhan comes to an end, I pray that Allah accepts our good deeds – our fasts, our prayers, our du’a, and every action done for His sake. May this blessed month leave us with a slate clean of sin.

I’m sure preparation for ‘Eid ul Fitr is well under way for many of us. This joyous holiday is a gift from Allah after the month of abstinence. It is a day of thanksgiving and worship. It is a day when we manifest our brotherhood and sisterhood and unity.
It was customary of the Prophet ﷺ to do the following on ‘Eid:

  1. Eat something sweet prior to prayer
    • Anas radi Allahu ‘anhu, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: “The Prophet ﷺ would not go out on the day of ‘Eid al-Fitr without eating dates.”
  2. To get ready by taking a bath, wearing one’s best clothes, and putting on perfume prior to prayer.

    • “The Prophet ﷺ used to order us to wear the best clothes we have for the two ‘Eid prayers and to use the best perfumes that we have.”
  3. To say takbeer

    • Takbeer starts from the night before ‘Eid until the Imam starts the prayer.
    • There are two formats for the Takbeer
      • Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, laa ilaaha ill-Allaah, Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, wa Lillaahi’l-hamd – Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great, there is no god except Allah, Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great, and all praise be to Allah.
      • Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, laa ilaaha ill-Allaah, Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, wa Lillaahi’l-hamd – Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great, there is no god except Allah, Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great , Allah is Most Great, and all praise be to Allah
  4. To congregate for prayer

    • Umm Atiyah radi Allahu ‘anha, may Allah be pleased with her, said: “We were ordered to go out with the single and menstruating women to the two ‘Eids in order to witness the good and the supplications of the Muslims.”
  5. To offer ‘Eid prayer

    • The Hanafi hold that ‘Eid prayer is wajib, obligatory.
    • The Hanbali believe that it is fard kifayah, a communal duty binding on the Muslims as a group, and it is fulfilled if a sufficient number of people perform it thereby absolving the rest of sin.
    • The Maliki and Shafi`i are of the opinion that it is sunnah mu’akkadah.
  6. To attend ‘Eid khutbah

    • Narrated Abdullah bin Umar, radi Allahu ‘anhu, may Allah be pleased with him: Allah’s Messenger ﷺused to offer ‘Eid salaah and then deliver the khutbah.
  7. To refrain from praying nafl before or after ‘Eid prayer

    • Narrated Ibn Abbas, radi Allahu ‘anhu, may Allah be pleased with him: The Prophet ﷺ offered two rakat on the day of ‘Eid ul Fitr and he did not pray before or after it.
  8. To use alternate routes to and from prayer

    • Jaber radi Allahu ‘anhu, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated, “On the days of ‘Eid, the Prophet ﷺ would go to the prayer area by one route and come back by another route.”
  9. To congratulate each other

    • When the Prophet’s ﷺcompanions met each other on ‘Eid, they would say, “May Allah accept from us and from you.”

May our ‘Eid be full of joy and happiness. May Allah ease the difficult of those who are unable to celebrate due to oppression and aggression against them, particularly our brothers and sisters in Gaza and Syria, and grant them peace and security.
‘Eid Mubarak!

4 Responses

  1. This is confusing… do it this way, do it that way… it’s starting to sound like the Christian churches. 🙁 Alhumdillilah I am a Jesus Follower in Islam.

  2. This is confusing… do it this way, do it that way… it’s starting to sound like the Christian churches. 🙁 Alhumdillilah I am a Jesus Follower in Islam.

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