The Preparations for Eidul Adha
3rd October 2014 - Yousuf Saleh
All Praise is due to Allah (swt) who is the Sustainer of all the Universe. May the
peace and blessings of Allah (swt) be upon Muhammad (saws), his family, his
companions and all those who follow him in righteousness until the day of
resurrection.
Amma Bad.
Respected brothers and sisters at home, accordingto the announcement of the
Saudi government today, all the hujjaj areobserving the day of Arafah. So, Eid alAdha will be observed tomorrow Insha Allah, on the 10th day of the month of Dhul
Hijjah. Therefore today’s khutba is about ‘The Masnoon method of celebrating Eid’
and we will discuss today How Eid used to be celebrated during the time of our
beloved Prophet (saw).
Someof the Ahadith illustrate Eid celebrations during the time of the Prophet (saw).
We Muslims should observe these Sunnahs on the day of Eid:
It is Sunnah to Prepare oneself for the two Eids: It is preferred to take a shower,
perfume one's self and wear one's best attire on the occasions of the two Eids. It
has been mentioned that the Prophet (saw) would wear a Yemeni cloak on every
Eid. This is related by ash-Shaf'i and al-Baghawi.
Nafi’ reported: Abdullah ibn Umar (RA) would wear his best clothes on the day of
the two Eids.
Al-Hassan as-Sibt says: "The Prophet (saw) ordered us to wear the best clothes we
could find for the two Eids and to apply the best perfume we could find and to
sacrifice the best animal we could find, on Eid ul Adhha.
“Al- Nawawi (RA) said that the Muslims were unanimously agreed that it is
mustahabb to do ghusl, to have shower for Eid prayer.
The reason why it is mustahabb is the same reason as that for doing ghusl before
Jumu’ah and other public gatherings. Rather on Eid the reason is even stronger.
An-Nawawi said, “The narrations of Ash-Shafi’ee and his companions agree upon the
recommendation to perform a ritual bath on the day of Eid for those present at the
prayer as well as for those who do not attend.”
Eating before going out to pray on Eid al-Fitr and after the prayer on Eid al-Adha:
For Eidul fitr, it is a sunnah to eat an odd number of dates before going to pray Eid
prayer, while for Eidul adha the eating should be delayed until one returns from the
Eid prayer and then he may eat of his sacrifice if he has sacrificed an animal.
It has been mentioned in Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah, Buraidah reports: "The Prophet
(saw) would not go out on the day of breaking the fast (Eidul fitr) until he had eaten
and on the day of sacrifice (Eidul adha) he would not eat until he had returned from
Salah’.
It is mustahab to eat before going to the salah of Eidhul Fitr to emphasize the fact
that it is forbidden to fast on that day and to demonstrate that the fast has ended.
But on Eid al-Adha it is mustahab not to eat anything until one comes back from the
prayer, so he should eat from the udhiyah (sacrificial animal) if he has offered a
sacrifice. If he is not going to offer a sacrifice or if he is not offering a sacrifice in his
home town, there is nothing wrong with eating before the prayer.
It is Sunnah to Perform Eid Salah in an open place, in Eidgah:
Salatul Eid can be performed in the mosque but it is preferred to perform in a place
outside the city as long as there is no excuse or reason to do otherwise e.g., rain and
so on, as the Prophet (saw) would pray the two Eid’s in the outskirts of Madinah and
he never prayed it in his mosque, except once. Abu Hurairah (ra) reports that it was
raining on the day of Eid, so the Prophet (saw) led them in salatul Eid in the mosque.
Women and children are encouraged to attend Eid prayer:
Islam requires women and children to go out and attend the salatul Eidain.
Irrespective of whether they are married, single, young, old, or menstruating
women.
A hadith mentioned in Bukhari and Muslim, Umm 'Atiyah reports: "We were
ordered to go out along with the single and menstruating women to the two Eids, in
order to witness the good and the supplications of the Muslim Ummah. The
menstruating women would separate from the performers of Salah.
In another hadith related by Ibn-Majah and al-Baihaqi, Ibn 'Abbas (RA) says that the
Prophet (saw) would take his wives and daughters to the two Eids.
Ibn 'Abbas further reports: "I went out with the Prophet (saw)
on the day of Eidul Fitr or on the day of Eidul Adha, and he prayed and gave a
khutbah, and then he went to the women section and admonished them, reminded
them of Allah, and ordered them to give charity etc."
It is sunnah Going to the prayer by one route and returning by another.
Most of the people of knowledge are of the opinion that it is preferred for a person
to go to the salah (prayer) by one route and then to return home through another
route, regardless of whether he be the imam or a member of the congregation.
In Bukhari Jabir reports: "On the days of Eid, the Prophet would take different
routes."
It was said that the reason for that was so that the two routes would testify for him
on the Day of Resurrection. Or it was in order to manifest the symbols of Islam on
both routes, or to manifest the remembrance of Allaah (dhikr), or to annoy the
hypocrites and Jews. Or it was in order to attend to the people’s needs, to answer
their questions, teach themIsalm, set an example and give charity to the needy, or
to visit his relatives and uphold the ties of kinship.
However, it is permissible to return through the same route by which one goes to
the musalla (prayer place).
The time of Eid prayers: Ahmad records that Jundub said: "The Prophet prayed the
Eidul fitr prayer while the sun was [approximately] six meters above the horizon and
the Eid ul Adha while the sun was three meters above the horizon."
Ibn Qudamah says: "It is a Sunnah to pray salatul adha early in order to allow more
time for the people to perform the sacrifice, and the salatul fitr is to be delayed in
order to give people time to pay zakat al-Fitr.
Playing, amusements, drinking, and eating within the moral boundaries, are
permissible on the days of 'id.
Ibn Hajar writes in Fath al-Bari, "Ibn as-Siraj related from Abu az-Zinad on the
authority of 'Urwah from 'Aishah that the Prophet (saw) said that day: 'Let the Jews
of Madinah know that our religion is spacious [and has room for relaxation] and I
have been sent with an easy and straight forward religion. "'
Ahmad and Muslim record from Nubaishah that the Prophet (saw) said: "The days of
Tashreeq are the days of eating and drinking [of Course non-alcoholic drinks] and of
remembering Allah, the Exalted.
Prayer before or after salatul Eid:
There is no prayer before or after salatul Eid. Ibn 'Abbas reports: "The Prophet (saw)
went out to the site of the Eid prayer and prayed two raka’ats of Eid Prayer without
praying anything before or after it." Imam Bukhari records that Ibn 'Abbas disliked
that one should perform a prayer before salatul Eid.
What If One Joins the Eid Prayer As a Latecomer?
Whoever joins the Eid prayer as a latecomer must still say the additional takbirs for
Eid in what was missed with the Imam. If one joins the first Rakah while the Imam is
bowing, making ruku, he should say the additional takbirs in ruku instead of
Tasbeeh of ruku.
If one joins after the Imam has got up from the ruku or joins in the second Rakah,
then after the Imam says the final salams one gets up to perform the first rakah,
which was missed. As such, one stands up, recites the Fatiha and a short sura, and
then says the additional takbirs for Eid.
The reason one recites the Quran before saying the additional takbirs in this
situation is due to the fact that none of the Companions (RA) have prescribed
otherwise.
What If One Misses the Eid Prayer? Can One Perform the Eid Prayer Alone?
No, the Eid prayer is only performed in a formal congregation.
For those who missed the Eid prayer, it is recommended to pray the supererogatory
Duha prayer with four rakas. This was related by the Companion ibn Mas’ud (RA).
Reciting Takbeer on the day of Eid, This is one of the greatest Sunnahs on the day of
Eid because Allah (swt) says in [al-Baqarah 2:185]
“(He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must
magnify Allah (swt) to say Takbeer (Allahu Akbar: Allah is Greatest)] for having
guided you so that you may be grateful to Him”
The time for takbeer on Eid al-Fitr starts from the night before Eid until the imam
enters to lead the Eid prayer.
In the case of Eid al-Adha, the takbeer begins on the first day of Dhu’l-Hijjah and
lasts until sunset on the last of the days of Tashreeq which is an unrestricted
Takbeer. It is mustahab preferable. There is also a wajibtakbeer, which are,
restricted for five days.
Umar Ibn Khattab (RA), Ali Ibn Abi Talib (RA) & Ibn Abbas (RA) said, "Recite the
Takbeer from the Fajr of the day of Arafah until the Asr of the last day of AyamulTashreeq (13th of Dhul-Hijjah).
So, it is wajib for every adult Muslim to recite the takbeer after every fardsalah
during these five days. This has started today after Fajr and will be continuing until
Tuesday after Asr.
And the Takbeer is “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La Ilaha Illallah, Wallahu Akbar
Allahu Akbar WallilahilHamd.
Offering greetings:
The etiquette of Eid also includes the greetings and good wishes exchanged by
people, no matter what the wording, such as saying to one another Taqabbal
Allaahu minna wa minkum
(May Allah accept (good deeds) from us and from you” or “Eid Mubarak” and other
permissible expressions of congratulations.
It was narrated that Jubayr ibn Nufayr said: When the companions of the Prophet
(saw) met one another on the day of Eid, they would say to one another, “May Allah
accept (good deeds) from us and from you.”
May Allah (swt) give us and to all of the Muslim ummah the thawfeeq to gain His
blessings and Mercy through Hajj, Qurbani, salatul Eid and all the rituals of these
blessed days. Ameen.