Eid-ul-Fitr:

Allah’s gift to Muslims

By Mohammed NAALIR

Muslims in Sri Lanka along with Muslims the world over would celebrate the Ramadan festival (Eid-ul-Fitr) today, depending on the sighting of the new moon in the western horizon.

Eid-ul-Fitr is the Arabic term for charity. Giving alms and charity to those who do not have, will further illuminate the day.

Islam bequeaths that the Ramadan (Eid-ul-Fitr) festival must be celebrated in keeping with Islamic norms. Muslims must be happy on this day and nobody is expected to mourn on this blessed day. Fasting on this day is prohibited.

Allah favoured this day as a gift to Muslims for sacrificing eating and drinking, which are important for one to survive, throughout the month during daytime in obedience to Allah’s command.

We should analyse the meaning of the word ‘Eid’. It is not wearing new clothes or taking pride in one’s wealth. Eid is not an occasion for personal entertainment. It is an occasion to pay gratitude to Allah by those who sacrificed the whole month of Ramadan, paying homage to Allah and fasting to get close to Him and receive acknowledgement.

One should dine on something before the Eid prayer. This may take the form of dates in accordance with the command of Allah as was demonstrated while fasting.

Giving alms and charity on this day brings happiness to the poor, revives the spirit of co-operation and kindness among Muslims, purifies their souls and suppresses their tendencies towards being miserly.

Wearing new clothes and applying perfume is one of the practices of Eid. It is the means of recognising the kindness of the Almighty. It involves beautification.

Eid is a time to display the favour of Allah as there is a hadeeth (prophetic saying) which goes ‘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.

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

Eid is a gathering of thousands of rich, poor, big, small, ruler and ruled. It is a day of rewards. Whoever fasted with faith and consciousness will be granted glad tidings of a great prize, a major success and a huge reward. Whoever sinned while fasting, was careless with the commands of Allah and trespassed His boundaries, will regret it and feel deep worry.

Two groups of people

On the day of Eid there will be two groups of people returning from prayer. The group that has been rewarded - 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 the losers and the despondent. They will be returning with disappointment, loss, regret and denial. 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 is not he who goes faster on his horse or camel; but the winner is he whose sins are forgiven. Muslims! 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.”

Prophet Muhammad narrated the pride of fasting in this way, “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.”

Allah says, “He wants (you) to complete the same number (of days) and thus must magnify Allah (takbeer-reveres Allah) for having guided you and so that you may be grateful to him.”

Prophet (Sal) used to emerge on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr and say the takbeer until he reached the musallaa (praying place) and until he had performed the prayer. So when he had performed the prayer he stopped saying the takbeer.

A scholar of hadeeth Al-Albaanee said: “This hadeeth contains evidence concerning the legality of what 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 takbeer has not been authentically reported in a hadeeth of Prophet Muhammad from that which we know, but it has been reported by some of the companions of the Prophet.

Ibn Masood said: “Allaahu-Akbar. Allaahu-Akbar. Laa ilaaha illallaah. Wa-Allaahu-Akbar. Allaahu-Akbar. Wa-lillahil-Hamd.” (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.)

Greatest and most sublime

Ibn Abbaas said: “Allaahu-Akbar. Allaahu-Akbar. Allaahu-Akbar. Wa-lillaahil-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 the musallaa.

Imaam Sa’eed ibn-ul-Musayyib said, “The Sunnah acts of Eid-ul-Fitr are three: Walking to the musallaa, eating before proceeding to the musallaa and bathing.”

Imaam al-Muhallib said, “The wisdom behind eating before Eid prayer is so 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 reported, “That the Prophet prayed two rak’ahs on the day of Fitr and he 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 analogous 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”.