Eid-ul-Fitr, the day of charity

By Mohammed NAALIR

As Ramadhan is nearing its end Muslims the world over are preparing to celebrate the multifold blessed Eid-ul-Fitr (Ramadhan) festival.

Eid-ul-Fitr, an Arabic term refers to the word charity. Giving alms and charity to the poor people will further illuminate the day.

Islam bequeaths that the Eid-ul-Fitr festival must be celebrated within the Islamic psalms. All must be happy on this day and nobody can mourn. Fasting on this day is completely prohibited.

Islam favoured this day as a gift to Muslims for sacrificing all their material needs which are most important for one to survive in this world paying homage to the Almighty.

We have to analyse the meaning of Eid and how it will be. Eid is not for those who wear new clothes or who take pride in their wealth. The Eid is for those who fear the promised day of Judgement and the owner of the Majestic Throne, the Almighty Allah.

Eid is not a personal entertainment occasion. Eid is rather an occasion to pay gratitude to the Almighty Allah for those who sacrificed the whole month paying homage to Allah and fasting to get close to him and receive his acknowledgement. It is a time to display the Almighty Allah's grace and advance on believers.

One should eat something before the Eid prayer. This may take the form of dates in accord and with the command of Allah as was demonstrated while fasting. Likewise, the alms for breaking the fast (Zakaath al Fitr) acquits the fasting person from mistakes and obscenities committed during the Ramadhan.

Happiness to poor

It brings happiness to the poor, revives the spirit of cooperation and kindness among Muslims, purifies their souls and suppresses their tendencies towards being miserly.

Wearing new clothes and use of perfumes is one of the practices of Eid. It is the means of recognising the kindness of the Almighty. It involves beautification because Allah is beautiful and he loves that which is beautiful. Eid is a time to display the favour of Almighty Allah as there is a Hadeeth that says, `Verily Allah loves to see the effect of His favour upon his servant if he blesses him'.

It is an occasion to exchange visits, greetings, love and good wishes. It demands contact with relatives, kindness of parents, sympathy for the poor and compassion for neighbours.

The Muslim Eid reflects happiness that is governed by the Islamic rules and ethics. It enjoins dignified fun, courteous and innocent games, caring smiles, legitimate picnics and creative stories.

This is an occasion that evokes the image of the day of the great exhibition. Eid gathers thousands upon thousands of rich,poor, big, small, ruler, ruled, happy and sad.

Eid is a day of rewards. Whoever fasted with faith and consciousness grants him glad tidings of a great prize, a major success and a reward. Whoever sinned while fasting, was careless with the commands of Allah and trespassed His boundaries, he will regret it and feel deeply sorry.

Two groups

On the day of Eid there will be two groups of people returning from prayer. One group has been rewarded and it is grateful. Allah will say to them: `Go, you have been forgiven. You pleased me and I have been pleased with you'. The other group is that of losers and despondents. They will return with disappointment, loss, regret and denial.

One righteous man passed by a group of people engaged in vain conversation and having fun on Eid day. He said to them: `If you did well in Ramadhan, this is not gratitude for goodness. And, if you wronged, this is not the way of one who has erred with the most merciful.

Umar ibn Abdul Aziz (Rali) saw some people hastening away from Arafat on their horses and camels at sunset. He said to them, `The one who wins not he who goes faster on his horse or camel; but the winner is he whose sins are forgiven. O Muslim! Think about those with whom you prayed last Eid. They included your fathers, grandfathers, beloved ones and friends.

Where are they? Where have they gone? Tomorrow you will receive the prize. Tomorrow you will be given your full recompense in a record of your deeds.

Gift to those who fast

Prophet Muhammad (Sal) narrated the pride of fasting in this way that I cannot find a better or greater masterpiece than to present to those who fast. They are the practical Hadeeths that have been mentioned in connection with rewards and blessings. They are the Hadeeths that lead to the doors of happiness and the paths of goodness in the world.

Takbeer in Eids

Allah says "(He wants you) to complete the same number (of days) and that must magnify Allah (Takbeer) for having guided you and so that you may be grateful to him.

Prophet (Sal) use to emerge on the day of `Eid-ul-fitr and say the Takbeer until he reached the musallaa and until he had recited the prayer. Here, when he had recited the prayer he stopped saying the Takbeer.

The scholar of Hadeeth al-Albaanee said: "This Hadeeth contains evidence concerning the legality of what the Muslims are acting upon, from saying the Takbeer aloud on the way to Musallaa; even-though many Muslims have become negligent of this Sunnah to such an extent that it has nearly become a thing that was'.....

The manner of saying the Takbeer has not been authentically reported in a Hadeeth of Prophet (Sal) from that which I know, but it has been reported from some of the companions.

Ibn Mas`ood said:

Allaahu-Akbar. Allaahu-Akbar. Laa ilaaha illallaah. Wa- Allaahu-Akbar. Allaahu-Akbar. Wa-lillahil-Hamd.

Allah is the Greatest

(Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest. There is none who has the right to be worshipped except Allah. Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest and to Allah belongs all praise.)

Ibn Abbaas said:

Allaahu-Akbar. Allaahu-Akbar. Allaahu-Akbar. Walillaahil- Hamd. Allaahu-Akbar wa ajallu, Allaahu-Akbar `alaa maa hadaana.)

(Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest and to Allah belongs all praise. Allah is the Greatest and the Most Sublime. Allah is the Greatest to that which he has guided us to).

Naaf'i Abdullah bin `Umar used to bathe on the day of Fitr before setting out to Musallaa. Imaam Sa`eed ibn-ul-Musayyib said, "The Sunnah acts of Eid-ul-Fitr are three: walking to Musallaa, eating before proceeding to the Musallaa and bathing.

Imaam al-Muhallib said, "The wisdom behind eating before the `Eid prayer is such that no person with doubt in his mind thinks that the fasting remains until after the prayer. So it is as if He [Prophet (Sal)] wanted to stop this from occurring".

Ibn `Abbaas said, "That the Prophet (Sal) prayed two rak'ahs on the day of Fitr and did not pray before or after.

Haafidh ibn Hajr said, "In conclusion, it has not been established that the `Eid prayer has a Sunnah (prayer) before or after it; in contrast to those who make an analogus conclusion for it from the Friday prayer.

The `Eid prayer is two rak'ahs and this is taken from the narration of `Umar (Rali) .

"The prayer of travelling is two rak'ahs, the prayer of `Adhaa is two rak`ats and the prayer of Fitr is two rak'ahs. They are complete, not shortened and this is taken from the word of the Prophet (Sal).