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Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Eid Sa3eed

Modhesh ready to entertain children on Eid
Eid Mubarak to all my friends and readers.
Eid al-Fitr, celebrates the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan and breaking the fast.
Although most people are off for two to four days, the religious Eid is a single day, Thursday, when Muslims are not permitted to fast.
The holiday celebrates the conclusion of the 29 dawn-to-sunset fasting. It has been a time of prayer, reflection, soul-searching and generosity.
Ramadan is also a month of family and friends’ gatherings for iftar to break the fast and suhoor, the meal before dawn. With close friends, we have been gathering nearly every night for coffee and Ramadan sweets to pass the time until suhoor. I will miss these evenings.
Eid falls on the first day of the month of Shawwal, according to the Muslim lunar calendar. It is a day when Muslims worldwide try to show a common goal of unity. I hope this happens in the more vulnerable countries at the moment.
Eid al-Fitr has a particular salat (Islamic prayer) consisting of two raka’ats (units).
The Prophet went out and offered a two-raka’at prayer on the day of Eid al-Fitr and did not offer any other prayer before or after it and at that time Bilal was accompanying him. [Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 15, Number 104. Narrated by Ibn Abbas]
According to tradition, and dating from the times of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), Eid prayers are generally offered in an open field or large hall. It may only be performed in congregation and has an extra six takbirs (raising of the hands to the ears) while saying Allahu Akbar (God is Great).
Also, as per tradition, there is no Adhan (call to prayer) on Eid and prayers are pronounced before the khutba (sermon):
Ata' said: "Jabir bin Abdullah said, 'The Prophet went out on the Day of Eid al-Fitr and offered the prayer before delivering the Khutba. Ata told me that during the early days of Ibn az-Zubair, Ibn Abbas had sent a message to him telling him that the Adhan for the Eid prayer was never pronounced (in the lifetime of Allah's Apostle) and the khutba used to be delivered after the prayer. [Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 15, Number 78. Narrated by Ibn Juraij]
Eid al-Fitr is an occasion to show gratitude to God and remember Him. It is also an occasion for entertainment.
Aisha, the Prophet’s wife, narrates:
Abu Bakr [her father] came to my house while two small Ansari girls were singing beside me the stories of the Ansar concerning the Day of Buath. And they were not singers. Abu Bakr said protestingly, "Musical instruments of Satan in the house of Allah's Apostle!" It happened on the Eid day and Allah's Apostle said, "O Abu Bakr! There is an Eid for every nation and this is our Eid." [Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 15, Number 72]
It is preferable to go to Eid prayers on foot and return from a different route:
On the day of Eid, the Prophet used to return (after offering the Eid prayer) through a way different from that by which he went. [Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 15, Number 102. Narrated by Jabir bin Abdullah]
After the early morning prayers, Muslims visit their relatives, friends and acquaintances or hold large communal celebrations.
Eid Sa3eed and my thoughts go out to those less fortunate who will not be celebrating this joyous day.