Eid-ul-Adha and Qurbani

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

The name of this Eid is Eid-ul-Adha - meaning the festival of the sacrifice.

On this Eid day, we should remember the incident of the Friend of Allah, the Prophet Ibrahim (as), and his adherence to the command of Allah, when being commanded to sacrifice his son Ismail (as).

The great Prophet of Allah was ready to carry out this divine command of Allah, only to find out that he was simply being tested.

The whole incident reminds us all of the acceptance of those who are obedient to Allah – they follow all of Allah’s commands no questions asked! Allah surely tests those whom He loves, and after these tests always comes much reward and acceptance.

We learn the lesson to always try and follow this great example of Prophet Ibrahim (as), and to put Allah before our own wishes and desires. Whether it is the want of our own selves – our nafs, peer pressure or family pressure.

Nothing should come before the pleasure of Allah and His beloved Rasool (saw)!

Virtues of the Night Before Eid

The Prophet (saw) said, “Whoever stays awake and performs Ibadah on the two nights before the two Eids, with hope for abundant reward from Allah, his heart will not die on the day when all hearts will be dead (Qiyamah)” – Ibn Majah

Such few people will actually carry out this blessed act so become one of those special ones who does!

Qurbani

·       The most important action to be performed in this month of Dhul Hijjah is Qurbani.

·       Qurbani is wajib (necessary) upon those people who own wealth equal to or more than the nisaab of Zakat.

·       This Qurbani is wajib each year – even if they are not performing Hajj.

·       It can be done in one’s hometown or you can pay for it to be performed on ones behalf in any other country around the world. This can also be done through a reliable charity organisation.

·       The Prophet (saw) said, “There is nothing more dearer to Allah during the days of Qurbani, than the sacrificing of animals. The sacrificed animal shall come on the Day of Judgement with its horns, hair and hooves to be weighed. The sacrifice is accepted by Allah before the blood falls to the ground. Therefore perform Qurbani open heartedly.” (Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah)

Wasalaam!

Eid - ul - Fitr

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

One of the biggest examples of Shaytaans deception is on the day of Eid. We try our utmost best during the whole month of Ramadan yet after all that worship, all that hunger and namaz, our duas and worship on the odd nights and the 27^th night, we wash away our good deeds with the wave of sins committed on the day of joy – the day of Eid.

This day of Eid is our test from Allah. We should remain fearful and scared of Allah on this day more than any other. Remember, that if we stay strong and refrain from sins, then perhaps others too will see the light. Invite towards good and stop people from evil!

Eid is and should be a day of happiness and joy, but our happiness and celebrations should lie within the boundaries of Shariah. Give in charity especially the Fitranah before the Eid prayer, and remember those less fortunate than us in your prayers. There are so many Muslims in the world who are suffering and don’t even have enough food in Ramadan let alone for Eid!

Sunnats of Eid ul Fitr

·       To awaken earlier than usual

·       To brush the teeth with miswaak

·       To have a bath (ghusl)

·       To be well dressed in an Islamic manner

·       To dress in ones best clothes (not necessarily new)

·       To use itr

·       To perform Eid salah at the place of prayer

·       To eat an odd number of dates or anything sweet before Eid salah

·       To go to the place of salah early

·       To walk to the place of Eid salah (if within distance)

·       To read the takbeerat silently and frequently on the way to Eid salah

·       To use different routes to and from the Eid salah

·       To say Eid Mubarak is permissible but shouldn’t be done as a strict ritual

Wasalaam!

The Night Before Eid

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Abu Hurayra (ra) relates that the Prophet (saw) said, “My Ummah were given five things for Ramadan which were not given to anyone except them. For them, the smell from the mouth of a fasting person is sweeter than the fragrant smell of musk. The fish in the sea seek forgiveness for the fasting persons until they break their fast. Allah prepares and decorates a special garden in Paradise everyday and then says to it, “The time is near when My faithful servants shall cast aside the great trials of the world and come to you”. In this month the evil minded Shaytaan is chained so as not to reach those evils to which they normally reach during other months besides Ramadan. On the last night of Ramadan, they are forgiven”.

The Companions (ra) asked, “O Messenger of Allah, is the last night Laylatul Qadr?” The Prophet (saw) replied, “No. But it is only right that a servant should be given his reward on having completed his service”. (Bayhaqi)

This is why the night before Eid is called Laylatul Jaaizah – the Night of Prize Giving.

We learn from the Hadith that:

·       the last night of Ramadan holds a special virtue over its previous days and nights

·       The coming of Eid is a great happiness to the Muslims, so in order to increase the joy, why not end the blessed month with a bonus earning of reward?

·       This doesn’t mean that we have to spend the whole of the night in worship, but we should at least try to perform extra nafl salah, read a few extra tasbeehs, recite extra Quran and make heartfelt dua.

     Inshallah, by doing even a little extra worship, we will be included in the Hadith where:

The Prophet (saw) said, “Whoever stands up in worship in the nights preceding the two Eids, expecting reward from his Lord, his heart will not die when the other hearts will die i.e. on the Day of Judgement”. (Ibn Majah)

Wasalaam!