Eid Prayer and Eid Celebration (2/2)

How to perform Eid prayer

Eid prayer should be performed as the normal Salah, with the only addition of six takbirs, three of them in the beginning of the first rakah after the Imam reciting Takbiratul Ehram (Allahu Akbar) and three of them just   before ruku in the second rakah. Other Imams (Rahmatullahi Alyhim) have some other ways to perform it. They recite Takbir twelve times: seven in the first Rakah and five in the second.  All ways are based on the practice of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him).

We have been told to raise our hands up to the ears, and reciting the takbir in a low voice then  to bring  the hands down  and leave them  earthwards. After the third takbir, we should fold them   as we do in the normal Salah. After these three takbirs the Imam recites Qur'an and performs the first rakah as the normal Salah. After rising for the second Rakah, the Imam begins recitation from the Qur'an, and then he recites three takbirs once again before bowing down for ruku. At each takbir the Muqtadis recite the same after the Imam then he recites takbir for bowing down into the ruku position. The rest of the prayer is performed in the usual way as the normal Salah.

If Eid day occurs on Friday, then Friday Salah (prayer) is no longer an obligation upon those who performed Eid prayer. Zaid ibn Arqam (may Allah be pleased with   him) reported that "Allah's Messenger (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) prayed Eid's Salah and then he gave an exemption concerning the Friday prayer, saying: 'whoever wishes to perform Friday may do so'. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

However Friday prayer becomes obligatory upon those who were not able to attend the Eid prayer. Those who attend Eid prayer and do not attend Friday prayer, it suffices for them to perform Salat of Dhuhar.

If one misses Eid prayer with the congregation he/she may pray two rak'at performing the same procedures as the Imam does.

Khutbahul-Eid: The Address of Eid

The Khutbah (The Address of the Eid) is a Sunnah Mua'kkadah as the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) always performed it and he advised his companions to stay and listen to the Khutbah in perfect peace and silence. It has been agreed that there are two Khutbah for the Eid and the Imam sits between them (i.e. like Friday Khutbah).  Khutbah should be delivered after the prayer of Eid. Ibn Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

"I attended the Eid with Allah's Messenger (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman all of them would pray before the Khutbah" (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

The Khutbah normally starts with  the praises of Allah  then  it is recommended      that the Imam recite Takbir (i.e. Allahu Akbar nine  times  and  with  seven  times  in  the  second Khutbah). It is also advised  that during  the Khutbah, the Imam  should admonish, advise, remind  the  people of Allah and  urge  them  to perform   good  deeds  and  abstain from evil ones.

After Eid prayer

It is permissible for Muslims to rejoice  and enjoy the Eid by giving presents,  eating, playing and recreation  as long as they stay within the acceptable bounds of Islam Narrated Aishah (may Allah  be  pleased  with  her).

"Abu Bakr entered upon us on the Eid day and there were some slave girls who were singing. Abu Bakr said: 'Slaves of Allah, you play the pipes of the Shaytan (Satan) in the presence of Allah's Messenger'. The Prophet said to him:

“O Abu Bakr!  Leave them, every people have a festival and this is our festival”" (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

It is also desirable to shake hands, hugging and congratulating one another on the days of Eid.  It has been narrated that when the Prophet’s companions met each other on the Eid day, they would say to each other "May Allah accept from us and from you" (Reported by Ahmad).

Muslims use many phrases in various languages to congratulate one another for the completion of the obligation of fasting and the Eid-ul-Fitr festival.

It is recommended to give the chance for the children a chance to celebrate the Eid by performing decent acts and enjoying the Eid by going to the Eid prayer and the khutbah also by visiting the relatives and doing more acts of charity etc. Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) said that:

"Eid is a day of happiness for those whose fasts and prayers have been accepted by Allah.”

He (may Allah be pleased with him) has also said: 

"Eid is the day in which one must commit no sins".

Muslims sometimes spend extravagantly during the Eid. This is an impermissible act in the sight of Allah who said:

“And give to the kindred his due and to the Miskin (poor) and to the wayfarer. But spend not wastefully (your wealth) in the manner of a spendthrift, Verily, spendthrifts are brothers of the Shayateen (devils), and the Shaitan (Devil Satan) is ever ungrateful to his Lord”. (Surah Al-Isra, Verse: 26-27)

It is from the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) to take different routes to and from the Eid prayer. Jaber (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:

"On the days of Eid, the Prophet (peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) would go to the prayer area by one route and come back by another route" (Reported by Al-Bukhari).

During the Month of Shawwal (the 10th month in the Islamic calendar)

We have been advised by the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) to keep six fasts in the month of Shawwal. He (peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

“Whoever completes the fast of Ramadan then adds to them the fast of six days in the month of Shawwal, it will carry the reward of fasting for the whole year”. (Reported by Muslim)

These six days of fasting could be performed at any day of the month of Shawwal. However, it is more preferable to start them in the second day of Shawwal. Therefore, we should take this opportunity of acquiring such an enormous reward from Allah the Most High.