The Eid Prayers

 

Translated by Nadeem Abdul Hamid from Noor-ul-Eidaah wa Najaat-ul-Arwaah of Allaamah al-Hasan bin ‘Ammaar ash-Sharnubulaali with notes by Muhyi-ud-deen Abdul Hamid.

 

 

Its ruling: The two Eid prayers are waajib (compulsory) on the person upon whom the Jumu‘ah is compulsory, and its conditions [apply as well]- except for the khutbah, for it will be acceptable without it, but that is blameworthy, as it is if the khutbah is made before the prayer.

Abu Dawood relates that Anas (Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (Sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) arrived in Madinah and the people there had two days on which they used to play. So he asked: What are these two days? They said: We used to celebrate these in the days of Ignorance. So the Messenger of Allah (Sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: Truly Allah has replaced them with two better than them: The day of Adhaa and the day of Fitr.

Unlike the Jumu‘ah, it is not a condition that there be three men with you besides the imaam, rather it is enough for the congregation in the two Eids that you be with one person other than the imaam.

To make the khutbah before the Eid prayer is leaving the sunnah which the Prophet (Sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) himself practiced, and the one who does so will be blameworthy.

Recommended actions on the day of Fitr: Thirteen actions are recommended on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr: To eat; and that which is eaten should be dates; and there should be an odd number of them; and to take a bath; and to perform miswaak; and to use perfume; and to wear one’s best clothes; and to give the sadaqat-ul-fitr if it is due upon one; and to display joy and happiness; and to give much sadaqah, as much as one has ability; and the takbeer- and that is waking up early; and to go early to the place of prayer; and to pray the Fajr in the masjid of one’s tribe. Then one should go to the place of the Eid prayer walking, saying the takbeer quietly and stopping it when one reaches the place of prayer, according to one narration, and in an alternate narration, [stopping the takbeer] when the prayer begins- and that is traceable through different chains.

And it is makrooh (disliked) to offer nafl (non-obligatory prayers) before the Eid prayer, either at the place of prayer or in one’s house; and similarly at the place of prayer afterwards, in the opinion of the majority [of scholars].

The time of the prayer: The proper time of the Eid prayer is from the rising of the sun to the extent of a spear, or two spears, until the zawaal (when it begins setting).

The manner of the Eid prayer: The manner of the prayer is that one should make intention for the Eid prayer, then make the takbeer tahreemah, then read thanaa, then make three extra takbeeraat, raising the hands each time.

Thanaa is the opening du‘aa which goes “Subhaanak-Allaahumma wa bi hamdika…” The extra takbeeraat are so called because they are additional to the takbeerat-ul-ihraam. And it is the sunnah to remain silent between each takbeer for the duration of three takbeeraat. And although it is not related from the sunnah to say any dhikr in that time, there is no harm in saying: “Subhaan-Allaahi, wal-hamdu lil-laahi, wa laa ilaaha illa-Allaahu, wal-laahu akbar.” (After each takbeer one should let one’s arms down by his side, except after the last takbeer one should fold them as in other prayers.)

Then one should recite the ta‘awwudh and tasmiyah quietly.

Ta‘awwudh is to say: “A‘oodhu bil-laahi min-ash-shaytaanir-rajeem.” And the tasmiyah or basmalah is to say: “Bismillahir-rahmaanir-raheem.” And it is the imaam who recites these, quietly.

Then one should read the Faatihah and a surah- preferably Sabbihisma rabbik-al-a‘laa…- then he should bow [and complete the rak‘ah]. Then, when he stands for the second rak‘ah, start with the basmalah, then recite the Faatihah and a surah- preferably Surat-al-Ghaashiyah. Then he should make three extra takbeeraat, raising his hands each time as in the first ones. And this is preferable to making the extra takbeeraat before the recitation in the second rak‘ah, although if these takbeeraat are indeed performed before the recitation that is permissible.

Then the imaam should deliver the two khutbahs after the prayer, and in them he should instruct about the rulings of Sadaqatul-Fitr.

And whoever misses the prayer with the imaam should not make it up. And the prayer may only be delayed to the day after Eid with some unavoidable excuse.

 

The rules of al-Adhaa and how it differs from al-Fitr: The rulings [related to] Adhaa are like those of the Fitr except that one should delay eating until after the prayer, and one should say the takbeer loudly on one’s way [to the prayer], and one should instruct about the sacrifice and the takbeerat-ut-tashreeq in the khutbah. And it is possible to delay the prayer with an excuse for three days. And ta‘reef (the imitation of those at ‘Arafaat) is not valid.

The literal meaning of at-Tashreeq is: “cutting up and drying meat.” The word is derived from al-musharraqah (“that which rises”) which is the sun, and the meat is dried by placing it in the sun. And the people used to do this in the 11, 12 and 13^th of Dhul-Hijjah, thus these three days are called ayyaam-ut-tashreeq. And there are also some days called ayyaam-un-nahr (“days of sacrifice”) which are the day of Eid-ul-adhaa and the two days following it- that is, the 10, 11 and 12^th.

The takbeeraat-ut-tashreeq is the takbeer which is said after every (obligatory) prayer from the Fajr of the ninth until the end of the third day of tashreeq.

Ta‘reef here means the imitation of those who are staying at ‘Arafaat. And this is makrooh-tahreemiy (hated to the point of impermissibility) because it is an innovation in the religion. For the staying at ‘Arafaat (and the rituals there) are to be observed in the vicinity of a specific place, as is the tawaaf. Thus, it is not permissible to perform the tawaaf (circumambulation) around any masjid other than the Ka‘bah. Rather, our scholars have said: Whoso performs circumambulation of a masjid other than the Ka‘bah, it is feared for kufr upon him. And similarly is the imitation of the actions of those staying at ‘Arafaat on the day of Eid-ul-adhaa.

The ruling of the takbeerat-ut-tashreeq: It is compulsory to recite the takbeer from after the Fajr of the day of ‘Arafaat (9^th Dhul-Hijjah) to the ‘Asr of the Eid day, one time immediately after every fard prayer that is offered in congregation. It is compulsory upon the resident imaam of the city and upon those who follow him, even if they are travellers, slaves or women. And this is the way of al-Imaam Abu Hanifah (Allah have mercy on him).

And the other two (ie. Imam Abu Yusuf and Imam Muhammad) say: It is compulsory after every fard prayer, upon the one who prays it, whether he is alone or a traveller or resident of the village. And it is to be read until the fifth ‘Asr after the day of ‘Arafah. And it is this method that is followed and the fatwaa is upon it.

The reason for the following of the second saying (ie. that all should recite it up till the fifth day after ‘Arafah) is that remembrance of Allah is commendable and is a feature of these days and the performance of it, even if it is not compulsory, is better than leaving it. Thus, if one abandons it, he is abandoning something which some consider compulsory and if one performs it, he is performing something of which it is said to be not compulsory but is still desireable.

And there is no harm in reciting the takbeer after the Eid prayers.

And the takbeer itself is to recite:

“Allah is the greatest! Allah is the greatest! There is no god except Allah! And Allah is the greatest! Allah is the greatest! And for Allah is due all praise.”

And there is no harm in increasing upon this if one wishes to say:

“Allah is much great! And much praise be to Allah! And glorified is Allah in the early morning and the late afternoon! There is no god except Allah, the One, Who has fulfilled His promise, and helped His servant, and given power to His army, and has Himself vanquished the opposing forces. There is no god except Allah! And we worship none except Him, making the religion sincerely for Him, even though the disbelievers hate it. Oh Allah! Send Your blessings upon Muhammad, and upon the family of Muhammad and upon the companions of Muhammad, and upon the wives of Muhammad and send much salutation upon them.”