Eid Al Fitrah

Introduction:

Eid Al Fitrah is celebrated on the 1st day of Shawwal, the 10^th month of Islamic calendar. Different scholars interpret the importance of this Salat (prayer) differently. Salat Al Eid is Wajib according to Hanafi scholars, Sunnah al Mu’akki’dah according to Maliki and Shafa'ie jurisprudence, and Fard according to Hanbali scholars. Some scholars say it is Fard Al Ain and some said it’s Fard Al Kifaya. During the time of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), it has been a practice that women and children too had participated in Salat Al Eid.

Fard Al Kifaya is a duty which is imposed on the whole community of believers in Islam. The classic example for it is this Salat where the individual is not required to perform it as long as a sufficient number of community members fulfil it.

The time of Salat Al Eid begins when sun reaches approximately two meters above the horizon until it reaches its meridian before Dhuhr. Adhering to the Sunnah, the time for Eid Al Fitrah prayer is delayed and Eid Al Ad'ha prayer is hastened, so as to facilitate distribution of Fitrah before the Eid al Fitrah prayer and offer sacrifice after the Eid al Ad’ha prayer. This has been a proved Sunnah and has been well recorded in Hadith books.

Zakat Al Fitrah:

Canadian $15.00 per person is to be paid to the needy before the performance of Salat Al Eid Fitrah.

Etiquettes of Eid:

The actions which a Muslim should observe on the occasion of Eid starting from the Maghrib prayers are as follows:

1 – Doing Ghusl before going out to the prayer.  Abdulloh Ibn Omar (RTA) used to do Ghusl on the occasion of Eid Al Fitrah before going out to the prayer-place in the morning [Al-Muwatta 428]. Al- Nawawi (RUA) said that the Muslims were unanimously agreed that it is Mustahab to do Ghusl for Eid prayer.

2 – Adorning oneself on the occasion of Eid. Al-Baihaqui narrated with a Sahih Isnaad that Ibn Omar used to wear his best clothes on Eid. So a man should wear the best clothes that he has when going out for Eid. 

With regard to women, they should avoid adorning themselves when they go out for Eid, because they are forbidden to show off their adornments to non-Mahram men. It is also Haram for a woman who wants to go out to put on perfume or to expose men to temptation, because they are only going out for the purpose of worship. 

3 – Eating before going out to pray on Eid Al Fitrah and after the prayer on Eid Al Ad’ha: Part of the etiquette is not to go out to pray on Eid al-Fitrah until one has eaten some dates, because of the following Hadith.

Narrated Anaes bin Malik (RTA): Almighty Alloh's Apostle (PBUH) never proceeded (for the prayer) on the Day of 'Eid-Ul-Fitrah' unless he had eaten some dates. Anaes (RTA) also narrated: The Prophet (PBUH) used to eat odd number of dates [Hadith Bukharie - Volume 002, Book 015, and Hadith Number 073].

But on Eid al-Ad’ha it is Mustahab not to eat anything until one comes back from the prayer, so he should eat from the Udhiyah if he has offered a sacrifice. If he is not going to offer a sacrifice there is nothing wrong with eating before the prayer. 

4 – Going to the prayer by one route and returning by another: It was narrated that Jabir Ibn Abd-Allah (RTA) said: On the day of Eid, the Prophet (PBUH) used to vary his route [Hadith Bukharie - Volume 002, Book 015, and Hadith Number 102].

It was said that the reason for that was so that the two routes would testify for him on the Day of Resurrection, for the earth will speak on the Day of Resurrection and say what was done on it, both good and bad. 

5 – Takbeer on the day of Eid: ….Glorify (Almighty) Alloh for guiding you, and to express your appreciation (of Him) [Surah Al Baqarah 2:185]. 

It was narrated that al-Waleed Ibn Muslim said: I asked Al-Awzaai and Malik Ibn Anaes (RTA) about saying Takbeer out loud on the two Eid. They said, Yes, Abdulloh Ibn Omar (RTA) used to say it out loud on the day of al-Fitrah until the Imam came out (to lead the prayers).  

6 – Performing Eid Prayers: Narrated by Ibn Abbas: I offered the 'Id prayer with Almighty Alloh's Apostle (PBUH), Abu Bakr, Omar and 'Othman (RTA) and all of them offered the prayer before delivering the Qhutba [Volume 002, Book 015, and Hadith Number 079].

7 – Offering congratulations: The etiquette of Eid also includes the congratulations and good wishes exchanged by people, no matter what the wording, such as saying to one another Taqabbal Allah Minni Wa Minkum or “Eid Mubarak” and other permissible expressions of congratulations. 

It was narrated that Jubair Ibn Nufayr (RTA) said: When the companions of the Prophet (PBUH) met one another on the day of Eid, they would say to one another, “May Allah accept (good deeds) from us and from you.” Ibn Hagar said its Isnaad is Hasan [Al-Fath, 2/446]. 

Narrated By Urwa (RTA): On the authority of 'Ayesha (RTA). On the days of Mina, (11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah) Abu Bakr came to her while two young girls were beating the tambourine and the Prophet was lying covered with his clothes. Abu Bakr (RTA) scolded them and the Prophet uncovered his face and said to Abu Bakr (RTA), "Leave them, for these days are the days of Eid and the days of Mina". 'Ayesha (RTA) further said, "Once the Prophet was screening me and I was watching the display of black slaves in the Mosque and ('Omar) scolded them. The Prophet said, "Leave them. O Beni Arfida! (carry on), you are safe (protected)" [Volume 002, Book 015, and Hadith Number 103].

Eid Al Ad'ha: Principles

Qhutba Jumu’a 139^th

Dec. 14^th 2007 – Zul Hijjah 04^th 1428

Introduction:

Eid Al Ad'ha is celebrated on the tenth day of Zul Hijjah that is a day after staying in the fields of Arafat for the purpose of Hajj. According to the Islamic calendar, Eid Al Ad'ha falls in the 12^th and the last month of Zul Hijjah. Eid Al Ad'ha is a great and unique festival of sacrifice embedded with joy and celebration in commemoration of Prophet Abraham’s devotion to Almighty Alloh and our own will to sacrifice. It would probably make sense to only those who understand that the feeling of sacrificing your beloved animal for the cause of Almighty Alloh and then sharing the joy of giving its meat to others that touches others' lives is far greater and deeper than the joy keeping to self.

It is the tradition of Prophet Abraham (PBUH) and a strongly recommended Sunnah. A lamb, sheep, goat, cow, buffalo, or camel can be offered as the sacrifice. There are seven shares in a cow, buffalo and camel. The sacrifice should be accomplished by slaughtering the animal after Salat-al-Eid. The sacrifice also called Udhiyah or Qurbani last for three days starting from 10th Zul Hijjah until the sunset of 12th Zul Hijjah. The meat should be divided into three shares: one for the family the second for relatives/friends and the third share is for the needy.

The act symbolizes our willingness to give up things that are of benefit to us or close to our hearts, in order to follow Alloh's commands. It also symbolizes our willingness to give up some of our own bounties, in order to strengthen ties of friendship and help those who are in need. We recognize that all blessings come from Allah, and we should open our hearts and share with others.

The Qur’anic Evidence:

Eid Al Ad'ha is a religious festival celebrated by Muslims worldwide as a commemoration of Messenger Prophet Abraham's (ASW) willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael for Almighty Alloh. One of Abraham's main trials was to face the command of Alloh to sacrifice his only son at the time. Upon hearing this command, he prepared to submit to Almighty Alloh's will. When he was all prepared to do it, Almighty Alloh revealed to him that his "sacrifice" had already been fulfilled. He had shown that his love for his Lord superseded all others that he would lay down his own life or the lives of those dear to him in order to submit to Alloh. 

"When he (the eldest son Ishmael) grew enough to work with him, he (the father Prophet Abraham) said: "My son, I see in a dream that I am sacrificing you. What do you think"? He said: "Oh my father, do what you are commanded to do. You will find me, God willing, patient". "They both submitted, and he put his forehead down (to sacrifice him). We called him: "Oh Abraham: You have believed the dream".  We thus reward the righteous. That was an exacting test indeed. We ransomed (Ishmael) by substituting an animal sacrifice. And we preserved his history for subsequent generations (in the form of Eid Al Ad’ha). Peace is upon Abraham. We thus reward the righteous. He is one of our believing servants" {The Qur’an – Surah As Saffaat (Chapter: The Arrangers) 37:102}.

This trial for Abraham (PBUH) was of the greatest trials throughout history. The principle of this trial was to clear his heart from love for things other than Almighty Alloh (SWT) and to fill it with love for Alloh. That would have not been fulfilled unless Prophet Abraham (PBUH) had rejected Satan for the love of Almighty Alloh.

However, to accomplish the plan for Abraham (PBUH), make him give a sacrifice to Alloh (SWT), and fulfill his wish, Alloh (SWT) sent him a huge sheep to sacrifice instead of his son and to leave this tradition in the ceremony of "Hajj" in the land of "Mina" for the future generations.

It is very important to understand that the sacrifice itself, as practiced by Muslims, has nothing to do with atoning for our sins or using the blood to wash ourselves from sin. But following the tradition, sharing the meat, righteous actions by us and our own sense of piety are good elements for us:-

"The animal offerings are among the rites decreed by Alloh for your own good. You shall mention Alloh’s name on them while they are standing in line. Once they are offered for sacrifice, you shall eat there from and feed the poor and the needy. This is why we (your Lord) subdued them for you, that you may show your appreciation. Neither their meat, nor their blood reaches Alloh. What reaches Him is your righteousness. He has subdued them for you, that you may show your appreciation by glorifying Alloh for guiding you. Give good news to the charitable" {The Qur’an – Surah Al Hajj (Chapter: The Pilgrimage) 22:37}.

Ahadith on Eid Al Ad’ha:

Narrated Al-Bara’a (RTA) that the Last Messenger Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: "Whoever slaughtered (the sacrifice) after the prayer, he slaughtered it at the right time and followed the tradition of the Muslims" [Sahih Bukharie: Volume 7, Book 68, and Hadith Number 453].

Narrated Jundab bin Sufyan Al-Bajali (RTA) the Last Messenger Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: "Whoever slaughtered the sacrifice before offering the Eid Al Ad’ha prayer, should slaughter another sacrifice in its place; and whoever has not slaughtered their sacrifice yet, should slaughter now" [Sahih Bukharie: Volume 7, Book 68, Hadith Number 469].

Conclusion:

v      Every adult must offer Udhiyah (Qurbani) if he/she is paying Zakat.

v      Every Muslim must conform to the tradition of Abraham (PBUH) by following the path of Muhammad (SAW).

v      The adult sacrificing an animal for the Eid Al Ad'ha must share the meat with relatives, friends and the needy.