The Night preceding Eid

Rasulullah (Swallalahu-alayhi Wasallam) said: “The heart of a person who remains awake (in Ibadah) during the night of Eidul Fitr and Eidul Adha (these are the nights hat precede Eid) will not die on the Day when hearts will be dead, i.e.he Day of Qiyamah”.

The nights of both Eids, i.e. the nights preceding the Days of Eid, are auspicious occassions which should be observed with reverence and worship. Rasulullah (Swallalahu-alayhi Wasallam) said that these nights are great occasions of ibadah and of gaining the proximity and special Mercy of Allah. These blessed nights, should therefore not be allowed to pass by in idleness.

Full advantage should be taken of these opportunities by offering obedience and Ibadah unto Allah I to the best of our abilities. Istighfar (seeking forgiveness for sins), Tilawah (reciting the Qur’an), Nafl salaah, durud, etc. should be profusely offered on these blessed nights. Among the rewards which will be obtained as a result of observing the sanctity of these glorious Eid Nights, the greatest reward is the tiding conveyed to us by Rasulullah (Swallalahu-alayhi Wasallam)r. In the above mentioned Hadith, the heart will be alive on that day when all other hearts will be dead!

 Regarding Eid:

Anas (ra), a companion of prophet Muhammad
(peace be upon him) reported that when the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
migrated from Makkah to Madinah, the people of Madinah used to have
two festivals. On those two days they had carnivals and festivity.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) asked the Ansaar (the Muslims of Madinah)
about it. They replied that before Islam they used to have carnivals
on those two joyous days. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) 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.(Hadith)

Sunnah of Eid Day

  • Wake up early.
  • Prepare for personal cleanliness, take care of details of clothing, etc.
  • Take a Ghusl (bath) after Fajr.
  • Brush your teeth.
  • Dress up, putting on best clothes available, whether new or cleaned old ones.
  • Apply Itr (perfume used only by men).
  • Have breakfast on Eid-al-Fitr before leaving for prayer ground.
  • Pay Zakaat-al-Fitr before Salaat-al-Eid (on Eid-al-Fitr).
  • Go to Eid prayer early.
  • Offer Salaat-al-Eid in congregation preferably in an open place except when whether is not permitting like rain, snow, regulations etc.
  • Use a separate route one for going and one returning from Eid prayer ground.
  • Recite the following Takbir on the way to Salaat and until the beginning of Salaat-al-Eid: Allaho-Akbar, Allaho-Akbar. La ila-ha ill-lal-lah. Allaho-Akbar, Allaho-Akbar. Wa-lilahill hamd.
    (Allah is great, Allah is great. There is no god but Allah. Allah is great, Allah is great. And all praises are for Allah).

RULES OF SADAQATUL-FITR

Sadaqatul-Fitr (or Fitrah) is wajib (compulsory) upon all Muslims – men, women and children who on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr are owners of the Nisab of Zakaah. Fitrah becomes wajib when the day of Fitr dawns with the commencement of Fajr. Therefore, if someone died before entry of Fajr on the day of Eid, Fitrah will not be paid out of his (the deceased’s) estate, since this Fitrah is not wajib on him.

If a child is born before the rising of Fajr, Fitrah will be paid on his behalf. If the child is born
after the entry of Fajr (on the day of Eid), Fitrah is not wajib on his behalf. The father has to pay the Fitrah on behalf of his under age children, i.e. those who have not attained the age of puberty. It is not obligatory upon the husband to pay Fitrah on behalf of his wife. If she is
the owner of Nisaab, she shall have to pay her own Fitrah.

The Fitrah should preferably be paid before the Eid salaah. It is not permissible to delay the payment of Fitrah later than the day of Eid. However, if it was not paid on the day of Eid or before, the obligation remains and the Fitrah will have to be paid. It is permissible to pay the fitrah in advance at any time during the month of Ramadhan. The Fitrah
could be paid even before Ramadhan. Sadaqatul-Fitr is wajib upon all those who fasted as well as those who did not fast for some reason or other.

The reasons for giving Sadaqatul-Fitr are :-

1. To give Sadaqatul-Fitr in lieu of the acceptance of one’s fasting.
2. To thank Allah I for bestowing on us the strength to fast during the
month of Ramadhan.
3. To purify one’s fast and obtain the complete blessings of fasting.
4. To celebrate the completion of fasting.
5. To demonstrate greatness of the day of Eid.
6. To assist the poor in joining the atmosphere of Eid.

METHOD OF PERFORMING EID SALAAH

1. Make the intention: “I am performing two Rakaats Eid Salaah which is wajib with six extra Takbir which are also wajib”.
2. After the first Takbir, fold the hands and recite the thana.
3. Then lift the hands thrice while saying “Allahu Akbar”. After the first two times leave the arms loose and after the third fold them.
4. Now, Surah Al-Fatiha and a Surah will be recited by the Imam and the Rak’ah will be completed like in the normal Salaah.
5. The second Rak’ah will be performed similarly except that before going into Ruku, the hands will be lifted thrice (whilst saying “Allahu-Akbar”) and each time they will be left loose on the sides.
6. With the 4th Takbir, the Ruku should be made.
7. The remainder of the Salaah should be completed like any normal Salaah.
8. Du`a should be made after the Salaah instead of after the Khutbah.

THE SIX NAFL FASTS OF SHAWWAL

Abu Ayyub (Radiallaho anhu) relates that Rasulullah  (Swallalahu-alayhi Wasallam) has said: “Whosoever fasted the full month of Ramadhan and then follows it with six fasts of Shawwal, is like a person who has fasted the full year”