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`Eid, in Islam, is a day of joy,
thanksgiving, worship, brotherhood, solidarity, and morality. A Muslim
should take the advantage of this day to bring himself nearer to Allah,
Most High.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
said: "Every nation has its festival, and this is your festival."
Here, he referred to the fact that these two `Eids are exclusively
for the Muslims.
The Muslims have no festivals apart from `Eid
Al-Fitr
and `Eid Al-Adha. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
"The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) came to
Al-Madinah, the people of Madinah used to have two festivals. On those two
days they had carnivals and festivity. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and
blessings be upon him) asked the Ansar (the Muslims of Madinah) about it.
They replied that before Islam they used to have carnivals on those two
joyous days. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) told
them: "Instead of those two days, Allah has appointed two other
days which are better, the days of `Eid Al-Fitr and `Eid Al-Adha."
(Abu Dawud)
These two `Eids are among the signs of
Allah, to which we must show consideration and understand their
objectives. Below, we will elaborate the rulings and etiquette of `Eid.
Rulings of `Eid
1. Fasting: It is haram to fast on the
days of `Eid because of the hadith of Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (may
Allah be pleased with him) in which he said that the Messenger of Allah
(peace and blessings be upon him) forbade fasting on the day of Fitr and
the day of Adha. (Muslim)
2. Offering `Eid Prayers: Some of the
scholars say that `Eid Prayers are Wajib (obligatory) –
this is the view of the Hanafi scholars and of Sheikh al-Islam Ibn
Taymiyah. Some scholars say that `Eid Prayer 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). This is the view of the Hanbalis. A third group say that `Eid
Prayer is Sunnah Mu'akkadah. This is the view of the Malikis and
Shafi`is.
3. Offering Supererogatory Prayers: There are
no Supererogatory Prayers to be offered either before or after the `Eid
Prayer, as Ibn `Abbas reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be
upon him) used to come out on the day of `Eid and pray two Rak`ahs,
with nothing before or after them. This is the case if the Prayer is
offered in an open area. If, however, the people pray the `Eid
Prayer in a mosque, then they should pray two Rak`ahs for Tahiyat
Al-Masjid (greeting prayer).
4. Women attending the `Eid Prayers:
According to the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
everyone is urged to attend `Eid Prayer, and to co-operate with one
another in righteousness and piety. The menstruating woman should not
forsake the remembrance of Allah or places of goodness such as gatherings
for the purpose of seeking knowledge and remembering Allah – apart from
mosques. Women, undoubtedly, should not go out without the Hijab.
Etiquette of `Eid
1. Ghusl (taking a bath): One of the
good manners of `Eid is to take bath before going out to the
Prayer. It was reported that Sa`id ibn Jubayr said: "Three things are
Sunnah on `Eid: to walk (to the prayer-place), to take a bath, and
to eat before coming out (if it's `Eid Al-Fitr)."
2. Eating before coming out: One should not
come out to the prayer-place on `Eid Al-Fitr before eating some
dates, because of the hadith narrated by Al-Bukhari from Anas ibn Malik
who said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)
would not go out in the morning of `Eid Al-Fitr until he had eaten
some dates… and he would eat an odd number." On `Eid Al-Adha,
on the other hand, it is Mustahab (recommended) not to eat until
after the Prayer, when one should eat from the meat of one's sacrifice.
3. Takbir on the day of `Eid:
This is one of the greatest Sunnahs of this day. Al-Daraqutni and others
reported that when Ibn `Umar came out on `Eid Al-Fitr and `Eid Al-Adha,
he would strive hard in making Takbir until he reached the
prayer-place, then he would continue making Takbir until the Imam
came.
4. Congratulating one another: People may
exchange congratulations and good greetings on `Eid, no matter what
form the words take. For example they may say to one another, "Taqabbal
Allahu minnaa wa minkum (may Allah accept from us and from you our
good deeds!)". Jubayr ibn Nufayr said: "At the time of the
Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when people met one another on
the day of `Eid, they would say, 'Taqabbal Allahu minnaa wa
minka.'" (Ibn Hajar)
5. Wearing one's best clothes for `Eid:
Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The Prophet (peace and
blessings be upon him) had a Jubbah (cloak) that he would wear on `Eid
and on Fridays." Al-Bayhaqi reported that Ibn `Umar used to wear his
best clothes on `Eid, so men should wear the best clothes they have
when they go out for `Eid.
6. Changing route on returning from
Prayer-place: Jabir ibn `Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported
that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to change his routes on the day of
`Eid. (Al-Bukhari)
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