The Day of Eid-ul-Fitr

• EID-UL-FITR
• BEAUTIFUL HADITH ABOUT EID-UL-FITR
• SUNNAH ACTS ON EID-UL-FITR
• TIPS HOW TO SPEND EID DAY
• MOTIVATIONAL STORY

EID-UL-FITR is celebrated on the first day of Shaw’waal, at the completion of Ramadhaan. Shaw’waal is the 10th month of the Islamic calendar. Eid-al-Fitr is a very joyous day for the believing men and women. On this day Muslims show their real joy for the many blessings Allah Ta’ala has given to them to fulfil their obligation of fasting and other good deeds during the blessed month of Ramadhaan.

BEAUTIFUL HADITH ABOUT EID
The Messenger of Allah Muhammad is reported to have said: “And then the night of Eidul fitr, the night that is called Laylatul Jaa’izah(night of prize giving), comes along. On the morning of Eid Allah sends down the Malaa’ikah(angels) to all the lands of the earth where they take their positions at access points of roads, calling out with a voice that is heard by all except man and jinn, “O Ummah of Muhammad(Salallaho alaihe wassallam), come forth from your houses towards a Lord that is noble and gracious, who grants much and pardons the major sins.” When they proceed towards the places for their Eid salaah, Allah says to the Malaa’ikah: “What indeed is the reward of that employee who had rendered his services?” The Malaa’ikah reply’ “O Lord and Master, it is only right that he should receive his reward in full for his services.” Allah then says, “I call you to witness, O My Malaa’ikah, that for their having fasted during the month of Ramadhaan, and for their having stood in prayer by night, I have granted to them as reward My pleasure and have granted them forgiveness. O My servants ask now of Me, for I swear by My honour and My greatness, that whatsoever you shall beg of me this day in this assembly of yours for the needs of the Hereafter, I shall grant you; and whatsoever you shall ask for worldly needs, I shall look at you favourably. By My honour I swear, as long as you shall obey my commands, I shall cover your faults. By My honour and by My greatness do I swear that I shall never disgrace you among the evil-doing ones and disbelievers. Depart now from here, you are forgiven. You have pleased Me, and I am pleased with you. The Malaa’ikah an seeing this great reward bestowed by Allah upon the Ummah of Muhammad (Salallaho alaihe wassallam) on the day of Eidul Fitr become greatly pleased and happy.” (Hadith-Targheeb)

IBADAH(WORSHIP) ON THE NIGHT OF EID
Our Beloved Rasulullah (Salallaho alaihe wassallam) said : “The person who stays awake on the nights preceding the two Eids occupying himself with ibâdah(worship), his heart will not die on the day when everyone’s heart will perish.” (His heart will not die during the time of evil and corruption). It could also mean that with the blowing of the trumpet his soul will not become unconscious. (Hadith –Ibn Majah)

SUNNAH ACTS ON THE DAY OF EID:
• Wake up early.
• Take a Ghusl (bath) before Eid Salaah
• Brush your teeth (use Miswaak)
• Dress up, putting on best clothes available.
• Use itr (perfume)
• Eat something sweet before proceeding to the Eid Musallah e.g. Dates etc.
• Pay Zakaat-al-Fitr before Salaatul-Eid (on Eid-al-Fitr).
• Go to Eid Musallah (Eid Gah/prayer ground) early.
• Offer Salaah-al-Eid in congregation in an Eid Musallah except when weather is not permitting like rain, snow, etc.
• Use different roads en route to the Eid Musallah and back home.
• Recite the following Takbir on the way to Eid Musallah :
Allahu-Akbar, Allahu-Akbar. La ila-ha ill-lallah.Allahu-Akbar, Allahu-Akbar. Wa-lilahill hamd. (Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest. There is no god but Allah. Allah is Greatest, Allah is Greatest. And all praises are for Allah)

TIPS ON HOW TO SPEND THE DAY OF EID:

• Keep in mind the pleasure of Allah and uphold Shari’ah at ALL times.
• Adorn yourself and your family modestly in the best of garments (not necessarily new).
• Avoid over eating and other festivities that have no benefit.
• Visit the poor, needy, orphans, elderly and sick.
• Should Eid be made at “my mum or your mum or whoever/wherever?” This requires Mashurah (mutual consultation). Mashurah is a Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (Sallalaho alaihe wassallam).Try to compromise and accommodate each other.
• Maintain and strengthen family bonds- Rasulullah (Salallaho alaihe wassallam) is reported to have said, “Anyone who wishes to have his means of livelihood enlarged and a prolonged life, should treat his relatives with kindness.”(Hadith)
• Don’t forget the oppressed, poor and needy Muslims in all parts of the world in your du’as and charity.
• Be punctual with our acts of worship and on this joyous day.

The Prize Giving night before Eid

“What! Are they crazy?” shouted Fatima, banging the knife on chopping board hard enough to scatter carrots in every direction and send the cat racing for the back door.

“What do they think? How can they possibly…” she sighed deeply, and raised the knife for another assault on the chopping board.

“Don’t they realise we have so much work to do? I mean who schedules a prize giving for the night before Eid.”

“But ma…that’s what Moulana(Sheikh)

said today. That there definitely is a prize giving,” whispered Ahmed, cowering behind a chair in case another barrage of carrots was launched.

“Which Moulana? And why don’t they think!” she continued, pausing just long enough to heave another heavy sigh, “We have so much to do the night before Eid. Get the kids clothes ready, prepare the plates, layer the biryani…and…this year Eid is by us, so everyone from ninety nine kilometres around will be here. So is Moulana going to come layer the Biryani?”

“I think I must phone him. Now! He must cancel this madness,” she moaned, “Prize giving before Eid! My foot!”

“And who must be there? Must we all come?”

Ahmed lifted head just a little above the chair and said “Ja, ma. He said it’s for everybody. No one should be left out.”

“Well I’ll explain to him,” said Fatima, reaching for the cordless phone, “then maybe he’ll understand why some people…some people…like me just can’t be there. We have work, you know?”

Fatima began banging the numbers into the phone which let out loud beep with every painful prod.”Gee, Moulana Yusuf!” she began, “What’s this about a prize giving the night before Eid? Whose crazy idea was this? Do you people know what the night of Eid is? We have so much to do?”

Without waiting for answers she continued, “I thought being a Muslim school you would think about us poor mothers who have to do EVERYTHING. I mean who decided that the school should have a prize giving the night before Eid? So whose grand idea was it?”

She sighed deeply and wiped the moisture collecting in her eye.

Moulana took advantage of the brief pause to squeeze in a word, “Sorry sister, but it wasn’t my idea.”

“Then who’s grand idea was this! Who decided this?” she shouted. The phone nearly slipping out of her hand.

“Allah’s idea,” came the almost inaudible reply.

“Moulana! If I didn’t have roza (fast) in my mouth I would have said such things that would have made your head spin in two directions. What has Allah got to do with the school timetable?” cried Fatima, her big frame collapsing into the nearest kitchen chair, accompanied by more deep sighs and a few moans.

“Sister, please listen to me,” said, Moulana taking advantage of the few second of silence, “There is a prize giving and it was at the request of Allah Ta’ala.”

Fatima straightened up in the chair and began to say something but Moulana continued, “As part of a lengthy Hadith in a book called Targheeb narrated by Ibn Abbas Radiallahu anhuma, the Noble Messenger Sallahu alaihi wasalam said that the night of Eidul Fitr is called Laylatul Jaa’izah – the night of prize giving. And in another Hadith narrated from Abu Hurairah Radiallahu anhu, Rasulallah Salallahu Alaihi wasalam mentioned that on the last night of Ramadaan Allah Ta’ala forgives the believers. The Companions Radiallahu Anhum enquired if that last night was Laylatul Qadr, and the Messenger replied “No, but it is only right that a servant should be given his reward on having completed his service.””So I explained to the children that just as they want to be honoured at the school prize giving and they work hard the whole year so they could get an award – Allah Ta’ala also rewards those servants of His who excelled during the months of Ramadaan and they are honoured with special awards for the Aghirah.”

Fatima’s faced flushed a bright pink and she let out a soft moan, “I didn’t know that””The the night before Eid,” continued Moulana Yusuf, “is a very important night and we should at least spend part of it in the worship of Allah. Despite all the other work we have, we should not lose the blessing of this night, because this is a such a night that who so ever remains awake on this night in the worship of his Lord, Allah, his heart will not die on the day when hearts will die?”

“What does that mean?” enquired Fatima now curious about this special night.

“On the day of Judgement when hearts will nearly die out of fear, this person will be free of such fear and anguish. Also, that person who remembers Allah is like a living person and the one who doesn’t is like a dead person. So to emphasise – this is a very important night that we often forget because we are too busy preparing for the next day or have already started celebrating Eid.”

Fatima stared at the pink slippers on her feet, “I’m sorry I shouted at you Moulana, but we just have so much pressure with Eid coming, there is so much to do. But I will have to make some time for Ibadat on this special night. But why didn’t Ahmed tell me this.”Ahmed now stood boldly away from the kitchen chair, “Because, Ma…..you didn’t give me chance to explain.

eislam