This excerpt is taken from the book of Fadhilat al-Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani, may Allah have mercy on him, Ahkam wa Masail Ramadan.
Eid al-Fitr :.
The word Eid is derived from the word 'عود' which means to return and to recur. Eid is called so either because it returns every year or because on this day Allah Almighty bestows mercy, forgiveness, and grace upon His servants. In the terminology of the Arabs, any gathering that is a gathering of joy and happiness is called Eid. In Medina, people used to celebrate two Eids according to the customs of ignorance.
Sayedna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
قدم رسول الله المدينة ولهم يومان يلعبون فيهما فقال ما هذان اليومان؟ قالوا كنا نلعب فيهما فى الجاهلية فقال رسول الله إن الله قد أبدلكم بهما خيرا منهما يوم الأضحى ويوم الفطر
"When the Prophet (peace be upon him) migrated from Makkah to Medina, there were two days of play and amusement for them. He (peace be upon him) asked: What are these two days? They said: We used to play on these two days during the time of ignorance. The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Indeed, Allah, the One without partner, has granted you a better substitute for these two days, and they are the Day of Eid al-Adha and the Day of Eid al-Fitr."
The disbelievers and polytheists of Makkah used to celebrate the Day of Nowruz and the Day of Mehrjan as Eid during the time of ignorance. Nowruz is derived from the Persian word 'نوروز' meaning new day. It is the first day of the solar year when the sun moves towards the sign of Aries, and Mehrjan is the first day of the month of Mizan. Both of these days are moderate in terms of heat and cold, and the day and night are equal. Ancient philosophers selected these two days for recreation, and the people of their time, believing in the perfection of their philosophers' intellect, began to imitate them and celebrate these days as Eid. The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) came and declared it invalid, and by the grace of Allah, a better substitute for these days was given to the Muslim Ummah. Eid al-Fitr was initiated in the year 2 AH.
Allama Ubaidullah Rahmani Mubarakpuri (may Allah have mercy on him) states:
واتفقوا على أن أول عيد صلاة النبى عيد الفطر فى السنة الثانية من الهجرة
"The scholars agree that the first Eid prayer of the Prophet (peace be upon him) is Eid al-Fitr, which was legislated in 2 AH. Since the fasts of Ramadan were made obligatory in 2 AH, Eid al-Fitr was established in that year, and the month of Eid al-Adha comes after Shawwal. Therefore, the first Eid is Eid al-Fitr."
This same point has been recorded by Allama Muhammad bin Ismail Yamani (may Allah have mercy on him) in
Reference: Subul al-Salam: 2/83
and Allama Ibn Athir Jazari (may Allah have mercy on him) in his
Reference: Tarikh al-Kamil: 2/43
.Therefore, all Muslims should spend the day of Eid according to the Sunnah of the Prophet. On the day of Eid, do not spend time in play, entertainment, watching films, negligence and carelessness, indulgence, sexual jokes, mockery and jesting, immorality and debauchery, and celebrations of frivolity, but rather prostrate before Allah, the Most Forgiving and Merciful, placing the great mountain of your sins before Him and seeking forgiveness. Prepare for training and preparation for jihad, as sending forth troops on the day of Eid is also part of the Sunnah of the Prophet, especially the youth should utilize their youth by receiving training for jihad and participating in battlefields to liberate Muslims from the oppression, tyranny, and brutality of disbelief and to elevate the knowledge of Islam in every corner of the world. The true Eid belongs to the Mujahid who descends into the valley of disbelief to end the might and grandeur of disbelief. A poet beautifully said:
ليس العيد لمن لبس الجديد
إنما العيد لمن خاف الوعيد
"Eid is not for the one who wears new clothes, but Eid is only for the one who fears the punishment of Allah."
Centuries have passed while Muslims celebrate the joys and happiness of Eid, yet the life of servitude remains. Muslims are bowed before the Jews and Hindus. The leaders of more than fifty Islamic countries are mentally enslaved by the Jews and Christians. Disbelieving laws and constitutions are enforced in Muslim countries. The first Qibla is under the grip of Jewish tyranny. The bloodstains of the Babri Mosque are calling the Muslim world day and night to jihad. Countries like Chechnya, Kosovo, the Philippines, Kashmir, Palestine, Afghanistan, and Iraq have become challenges for the faith and honor of Muslims. Thousands of mothers, sisters, and daughters have had their honor and dignity torn apart, yet the Muslims of the world are sleeping under the long blanket of negligence. The joys of Eid will truly be felt on that day when the flag of Islam waves everywhere in the world. The dominance of disbelief, arrogance, pride, haughtiness, and ostentation will be turned to dust, and they will be the slaves and servants of Muslims. The jizya will be collected in the treasury of the Bayt al-Mal, and the limits of Islam will be enforced. ان شاء الله
Rules of Eid:.
As soon as the month of Ramadan comes to an end, the Eid moon will rise, bringing a message of joy and happiness, forgiveness and mercy, and divine grace for Muslims. Upon seeing it, they should recite the same prayer they recited upon seeing the moon of Ramadan.
➊ Taking a bath: A man asked Sayyidina Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) about bathing, and he replied: If you wish, you can bathe daily. The man said: I want to ask about the bath that is specifically called a bath. He (may Allah be pleased with him) said that it is the bath on the days of Friday, Arafah, Eid al-Adha, and Eid al-Fitr.
Reference: (Bayhaqi: 3/278, Musnad Shafi'i: 385)
Similarly, it is authentically established from Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) in Muwatta Imam Malik 1/177 and from Saib ibn Yazid (may Allah be pleased with him) in Ahkam al-Eidain by Al-Firyabi (80) that taking a bath on Eid day is established with a sound chain.
➋ If Friday coincides with Eid day, then perform the Eid prayer first, and then the Friday prayer is excused.
Reference: (Abu Dawood: 1070, Nasai: 1590)
➌ There is no adhan or takbir for Eid.
Reference: (Muslim: 885)
➍ On Eid day, there are no voluntary prayers in the Eidgah besides the Eid prayer.
Reference: (Bukhari: 964)
➎ The Prophet (peace be upon him) would eat something before the Eid al-Fitr prayer and would eat after the Eid al-Adha prayer.
Reference: (Ibn Khuzaymah: 1426, Ibn Hibban: 593)
➏ It is Sunnah to take a different route when going and coming back.
Reference: (Bukhari: 986)
➐ Eating odd-numbered dates on Eid al-Fitr is Sunnah.
Reference: (Bukhari: 953)
➑ The time for the Eid prayer is the same as the time for the Duha prayer.
Reference: (Abu Dawood: 1135)
➒ Saying takbirs from home to the Eidgah.
Reference: (Bayhaqi: 3/279)
➓ Performing the Eid prayer outside the town.
Reference: (Bukhari: 956)
⓫ It is also permissible for girls to recite good poetry on Eid day.
Reference: (Bukhari: 952)
⓬ There should be no minbar in the Eidgah.
Reference: (Bukhari: 189)
Women Going to the Eidgah:
Women should also participate in the Eid prayers. Women who are in their menstrual period should also go to the Eidgah so that they can join in the prayers of the Muslims.
Sayyida Umm 'Atiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates:
أمرنا أن نخرج الحيض يوم العيدين وذوات الخدور فيشهدن جماعة المسلمين ودعوتهم وتعتزل الحيض عن مصلاهن قالت امرأة يا رسول الله إحدانا ليس لها جلباب؟ قال لتلبسها صاحبتها من جلبابها
We were commanded to bring out those who are menstruating and the veiled young women on the days of Eid so that they can join the congregation of Muslims and their prayers, and the menstruating women should stay separate from the place of prayer. A woman said: O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)! What if one of us does not have a large cloak? He (peace be upon him) said: Let her wrap herself in the cloak of her companion.
Reference: (Bukhari: 351, Muslim: 890)
Women can go to the Eidgah wearing jewelry. The female companions (may Allah be pleased with them) went wearing jewelry on the day of Eid. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) gave them a sermon and commanded them to give charity, they took off their earrings and rings and placed them in the garment of Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him).
Reference: (Bukhari: 98)
Takbirat of Eid :.
Sayyidina Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say the Takbirat from the Fajr of Dhul-Hijjah until the Asr of 13th Dhul-Hijjah.
Reference: Bayhaqi: 279/3
Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) would say the Takbirat from his home to the Eidgah on the day of Eid al-Fitr.
Reference: Bayhaqi: 279/3
Words of Takbirat :.
Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said these words:
الله أكبر كبيرا، الله أكبر كبيرا، الله أكبر وأجل، الله أكبر ولله الحمد
Reference: (Ibn Abi Shaybah: 490)
The words of Takbirat have come from Sayyidina Salman al-Farsi (may Allah be pleased with him) in this manner:
الله أكبر، الله أكبر، الله أكبر كبيرا
Reference: (Bayhaqi: 3/316)
Method of performing Eid prayer :.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) would lead the prayer in the prayer ground, first performing two rakats of prayer, then delivering a sermon while the people sat in rows. In the sermon, he would give admonitions and advice, and then he would return.
Reference: (Bukhari: 956, Muslim: 889)
The method is that one should be in a state of wudu, facing the Qibla, and perform two rakats of Eid prayer with the intention of Eid prayer, saying Allahu Akbar while raising the hands to the shoulders or ears, then placing them on the chest. Recite the opening supplication, then say seven takbirs before the recitation.
Sayyidina Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
قال نبي الله التكبير فى الفطر سبع فى الأولى وخمس فى الآخرة والقراءة بعدهما كلتيهما
"The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: In the first rakah of Eid al-Fitr, there are seven takbirs and in the second, there are five takbirs, and the recitation comes after them."
Reference: (Abu Dawood: 1151, Darqutni: 2/48)
Raise the hands with all the takbirs and then fold them, as it is unanimously agreed that the hands are folded in standing. After the takbirs, recite Surah Al-Fatiha. After that, the Imam should recite سورة ق or سورة الاعليٰ in the first rakah.
Reference: (Muslim: 878)
Then, say the takbir with raised hands and go into bowing. After that, continue as one generally prays. Complete the rakah and then stand up. In the second rakah, say five takbirs with raised hands before the recitation, and in this rakah, the Imam should recite Surah Al-Qamar or Al-Ghashiyah after Al-Fatiha.
Reference: (Muslim: 891)
Then complete the rakah as usual.
After finishing the prayer, listen quietly to the Imam's sermon. Only one sermon is Sunnah for the Eid prayer. Two sermons like on Friday are not established by any authentic hadith.
