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Albalagh Home General Articles Shawwal: What to Do on Eid Night, Eid Day, and During the Month |
Shawwal: What to Do On Eid Night, EidDay, and During the Month
-Beginning of the Ashur-ul-Hajj
-Eid-ul-fitr
-The Night Preceding'Eid-ul-Fitr'
-Before Going toEidPrayer
-Sadaqat-ul-fitr
-The'Eid Prayer
-How to PerformEidPrayer
-Khutbah:TheAddressof 'Eid-ul-fitr
-Six Fasts in the Month ofShawwalBeginning of theAshur-ul-Hajj
Shawwal is the first of the three months named as"Ashhur al-Hajj"(i.e.the months of Hajj). Although the major acts of Hajj are normally performed in the firstten days of Zulhijjah, yet the whole period starting from the first of Shawwal up to the10th of Zulhijjah is held to be the period of Hajj because some acts of Hajj can beperformed any time during this period. For example, theTawaf-ul-qudum,followed bytheSai'of Hajj cannot be performed before Shawwal, while it can be performed anyday after the beginning of Shawwal. Similarly, an 'Umrah performed before Shawwal cannotbe treated as the 'Umrah ofTamattu:while the 'Umrah performed in Shawwal can beaffiliated to the Hajj, making it a Hajj ofTamattu:Moreover,ihramof Hajjshould not be started before Shawwal, because itmakruh.For these reasonsthese three months have been named as the 'months of Hajj' and the month of Shawwal hasthe distinction of being the first of these.
The second meritorious aspect of Shawwal is that it has been chosen by Allah Almightyfor the celebration of "Eid-ul-fitr", one of the only two annual festivalsrecognized by the Shari'ah. This happy day is designed by the Shari'ah as a sign ofgratefulness by the Muslims on the accomplishment of Ramadan, and as an immediate rewardby Allah for those who spent the month of Ramadan in fasting and performing other formsof'ibadah.
Instead of commemorating an event from the past, the Shari'ah has prescribed the firstof Shawwal as an annual festival for the Muslims at an occasion when they themselvesaccomplish agreat 'ibadah.This approach reminds the Muslims that they should notrely only on the accomplishments of their ancestors, rather, they should themselvesperform meritorious acts to please their Creator.
In prescribing the ways to celebrate the happy day, Islam has adopted another uniqueapproach. The festivals of other religions or nations normally comprise of some acts ofrejoicing and enjoyment. The whole happy day is normally spent in dancing, singing andplaying.
In contrast, Islam has prescribed a simple yet graceful way to observe the happy day.First of all, it is mandatory on all the well-off Muslims to start their day by paying"Sadaqat-ul-fitr"to the poor of their society, so that they, too, may enjoy the day along with others,and may not be worried for earning their livelihood at least on that day of happiness.
After paying the"Sadaqat-ul-fitr",the Muslims are required toproceed to an open place where they can offer theEidprayer collectively. In thisway, they are supposed to present themselves before their Creator and offer tworak'atsof this special type ofSalah,which makes them receive blessings from Allahand start their celebration by these divine blessings.
After theSalahalso, they are supposed to rejoice the day in a responsiblemanner, without violating the limits prescribed for them and never indulging in the actsprohibited by Allah.
Keeping this point in view, we will now discuss specific rules prescribed for observingthe day ofEid-ul-fitr.
TheNight Preceding'Eid-ul-Fitr'
It had been the practice of the Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, that he wouldnot sleep in the night preceding the day ofEid-ul-fitr.This night has been namedin a Hadith as the Night of Reward (Lailatul Jaiza). Almighty bestows his rewards on thosewho have spent the month of Ramadan abiding by the dictates of Shari'ah, and all theirprayers in this night are accepted. Therefore, it is desirable to performnaflprayersin this night. The Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, is reported to have said:
Whoever stands up (in worship) in the nights preceding the two Eids expecting rewards from his Lord, his heart will not die when the other hearts will die. (Ibn Majah)
To benefit from this opportunity, one should perform as much worship in this night ashe can, and should pray for all his needs and desires.
Before Going toEidPrayer
The following acts are prescribed asSunnahat the beginning of the dayof'Eid-ul-Fitrbefore proceeding to theEidprayer:
1. To wake up early in the morning.
2. To clean one's teeth with a Miswaak or a brush.
3. To take a bath.
4. To put on one's best available clothes.
5. To wear perfume.
6. To eat a sweet food, preferably dates, before theEidprayer.
7. To recite the followingTakbirin the low voice while going to the'Eidprayer:
Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar La Ilaha Ila Allah Wa Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar Wa Lillahi Alhamd
Sadaqat-ul-fitr
Sadaqat-ul-fitris an obligation for every Muslim, male or female, who owns 613.35grams of silver or its equivalent, either in the form of money, ornaments, stock-in-trade,or in the form of some goods or commodities beyond one's normal needs. Every person whoowns such an amount has to paySadaqat-ul-fitr,not only on behalf of himself butalso on behalf of his minor children. The prescribed amount ofSadaqat-ul-fitris1.75 Kilograms of wheat or its value in money. This amount is prescribed for payingSadaqat-ul-fitrfor one person only. If a person has some minor children, the sameamount has to be paid on behalf of each one of them separately. The following points mustbe remembered concerning the payment ofSadaqat-ul-fitr.
1.Sadaqat-ul-fitris obligated on each adult male or female separately, and the relevant adult person himself is responsible to pay it. The husband is not required to pay Sadaqat-ul-fitron behalf of his wife nor is the wife supposed to pay it on behalf of her husband. Similarly, a father is not bound to paySadaqat-ul-fitr on behalf of his adult children or vice-versa.However, if the head of the family, by his own free will, wishes to paySadaqat-ul-fitrfor each one of the members of his family, he should seek their authorization for that purpose. In this case theSadaqat-ul-fitrpaid by him will be valid on their behalf. If he did not pay theSadaqat-ul-fitron behalf of any of the members of his family, he will not be responsible for it. Rather, it is the duty of every adult member of the family to discharge his own obligation or to request the head of the family to pay it on his or her behalf.
2. It is aSunnahthat theSadaqat-ul-fitris paid before performing the'Eidprayer. It can also be paid before the'Eidday, but it is not advisable to delay it up to the performanceof'Eidprayer. However, if a person has failed to pay on its proper time, he should pay it as soon as possible, whereby the obligation will stand discharged.
3. TheSadaqat-ul-fitris not necessary on behalf of a child who was born after the break of dawn in the'Eidday, nor is it necessary to paySadaqat-ul-fitron behalf of a person who dies before the dawn of theEidday.
4.Sadaqat-ul-fitrshould be paid only to a person who is entitled to receiveZakah.
The second obligation on'Eid day is to perform the'Eid prayer. Somerules in this respect are mentioned hereunder:
1. TheEidprayer isWajib(obligatory) on every male Muslim.
2. TheEidprayer can be performed any time between theIshraqandZawal.
3. It is preferable that the'Eidprayer is performed at an open field and notin a mosque. However, if, it is difficult for any reason to perform it in an open field,it can also be performed in a big mosque.
4. It is not advisable to hold the'Eidprayer in every mosque, rather it ispreferable that the people from several small mosques get together to either perform it inan open field or, in its absence, in a big mosque which can accommodate a large number ofpeople.
5. NoNafl Salahcan be performed before the'Eidprayer, neither inone's home, nor at the placeof' Eidprayer. Similarly,Naflprayer cannotbe performed after theEidprayer at the same place. However, it can be performedafter one comes back to his home.
6. TheEidprayer has neitherAdhannorIqamah.
TheEidPrayer has tworak'ahto perform in the normal way, with the onlyaddition of sixtakbirs,three of them in the beginning of the firstrak'ah,andthree of them just beforeruku'in the secondrak'ah.The detailed way ofperforming the'Eid prayer is asfollows:
TheImamwill begin the prayer withoutAdhanorIqamah.He willbegin the prayer by recitingtakbirofTahrimah (Allahu Akbar).You shouldraise your hands up to the ears, and reciting thetakbir,you give a little pauseduring which you should reciteThana' (Subhanak Allahumma.......)·After thecompletion ofThana'theImamwill recitetakbir (Allahu Akbar)threetimes, and after reciting eachTakbir (Allahu Akbar)in a low voice, you shouldbring your hands down and leave them earthwards. But, after the thirdtakbir,youshould set them at the level of your navel as you do in the normal prayer.
After these threetakbirstheImamwill recite the Holy Qur'an, which youshould listen quietly. The rest of therak'ahwill be performed in the normal way.
After rising for the secondrak'ah,theImamwill begin the recitationsfrom the Qur'an during which you should remain calm and quiet. When theImamfinisheshis recitation, he will recite threetakbirsonce again, but this time it will bebefore bowing down for ruku'. At eachtakbiryou should raise your hands up to theears, and after saying"Allahu Akbar'bring them down and leave themearthwards. After these threetakbirshave been called and completed, theImamwillsay anothertakbirfor bowing down into theruku'position. At thistakbiryou need not raise your hands. You just bow down for yourruku'saying,'AllahuAkbar'.The rest of theSalahwill be performed in its usual way.
Khutbah:TheAddressof 'Eid-ul-fitr
In thisSalah,Khutbah is a Sunnah and is delivered after theSalah,unliketheSalahofJumu'ah where it isFardand is delivered before theSalah.However, listening to theKhutbah of 'Eid Salahiswajibor necessaryand must be heard in perfect peace and silence.
It is asunnahthat theImambegins the firstKhutbaby recitingtakbirs'Allahu Akbar'nine times and the secondKhutbahwith reciting itseven times.
Note:The way of 'Eid prayer described above is according to the Hanafi school ofMuslim jurists. Some other jurists, like Imam Shafi'i, have some other ways to perform it.They recite Takbir twelve times before beginning the recitations from the Holy Qur'an inboth rak'ah. This way is also permissible. If theImam,being of the Shafi'ischool, follows this way, you can also follow him. Both ways are based on the practice ofthe Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam.
Six Fasts in the Month ofShawwal
It is commendable to keep six fasts in the month of Shawwal. The Prophet, Sall-Allahualayhi wa sallam, has said:
Whoever completes fasts of Ramadan then adds to them the fast of six days in the month of Shawwal, it will carry the thawab of fasting for the whole year. (Sahih Muslim)
Thishadithhad described the greatthawabof six fasts of this month.Therefore, the Muslims should take this opportunity of acquiring such an enormous rewardfrom Allah. It is more preferable to start these fasts from the 2nd of Shawwal and keepfasting up to the 7th of it. However, if, they are kept in other days, it is hoped thatthe requirement of the above hadith may also be fulfilled.
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