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Beginning of the
Ashur-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
first ten days of Zulhijjah, yet the whole period starting from the
first of Shawwal up to the 10th of Zulhijjah is held to be the period
of Hajj because some acts of Hajj can be performed any time during
this period. For example, the Tawaf-ul-qudum, followed by the
Sai' of Hajj cannot be performed before Shawwal, while it can
be performed any day after the beginning of Shawwal. Similarly, an 'Umrah
performed before Shawwal cannot be treated as the 'Umrah of Tamattu:
while the 'Umrah performed in Shawwal can be affiliated to the
Hajj, making it a Hajj of Tamattu: Moreover, ihram of
Hajj should not be started before Shawwal, because it makruh.
For these reasons these three months have been named as the
'months of Hajj' and the month of Shawwal has the distinction of being
the first of these.
Eid-ul-fitr
The second meritorious aspect
of Shawwal is that it has been chosen by Allah Almighty for the
celebration of "Eid-ul-fitr", one of the only two annual festivals
recognized by the Shari'ah. This happy day is designed by the Shari'ah
as a sign of gratefulness by the Muslims on the accomplishment of
Ramadan, and as an immediate reward by Allah for those who spent the
month of Ramadan in fasting and performing other forms of 'ibadah.
Instead of commemorating an
event from the past, the Shari'ah has prescribed the first of Shawwal
as an annual festival for the Muslims at an occasion when they
themselves accomplish a great 'ibadah. This approach reminds
the Muslims that they should not rely only on the accomplishments of
their ancestors, rather, they should themselves perform meritorious
acts to please their Creator.
In prescribing the ways to
celebrate the happy day, Islam has adopted another unique approach.
The festivals of other religions or nations normally comprise of some
acts of rejoicing and enjoyment. The whole happy day is normally spent
in dancing, singing and playing.
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 to proceed to an open place where they
can offer the Eid prayer collectively. In this way, they are
supposed to present themselves before their Creator and offer two
rak'ats of this special type of Salah, which makes them
receive blessings from Allah and start their celebration by these
divine blessings.
After the Salah also,
they are supposed to rejoice the day in a responsible manner, without
violating the limits prescribed for them and never indulging in the
acts prohibited by Allah.
Keeping this point in view, we
will now discuss specific rules prescribed for observing the day of
Eid-ul-fitr.
The
Night Preceding 'Eid-ul-Fitr'
It had been the practice of
the Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, that he would not sleep in
the night preceding the day of Eid-ul-fitr. This night has been
named in a Hadith as the Night of Reward (Lailatul Jaiza). Almighty
bestows his rewards on those who have spent the month of Ramadan
abiding by the dictates of Shari'ah, and all their prayers in this
night are accepted. Therefore, it is desirable to perform nafl
prayers in 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 as he
can, and should pray for all his needs and desires.
Before Going to Eid
Prayer
The following acts are
prescribed as Sunnah at the beginning of the day of 'Eid-ul-Fitr
before proceeding to the Eid prayer:
- To wake up early in the
morning.
- To clean one's teeth with a
Miswaak or a brush.
- To take a bath.
- To put on one's best
available clothes.
- To wear perfume.
- To eat a sweet food,
preferably dates, before the Eid prayer.
- To recite the following
Takbir in the low voice while going to the 'Eid prayer:
Allahu
Akbar Allahu Akbar La Ilaha Ila Allah Wa Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar
Wa Lillahi Alhamd
Sadaqat-ul-fitr
Sadaqat-ul-fitr is an
obligation for every Muslim, male or female, who owns 613.35 grams 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 who owns such an amount has to pay
Sadaqat-ul-fitr, not only on behalf of himself but also on behalf
of his minor children. The prescribed amount of Sadaqat-ul-fitr
is 1.75 Kilograms of wheat or its value in money. This amount is
prescribed for paying Sadaqat-ul-fitr for one person only. If a
person has some minor children, the same amount has to be paid on
behalf of each one of them separately. The following points must be
remembered concerning the payment of Sadaqat-ul-fitr.
1. Sadaqat-ul-fitr is
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-fitr on behalf of his wife nor is
the wife supposed to pay it on behalf of her husband. Similarly, a
father is not bound to pay Sadaqat-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 pay Sadaqat-ul-fitr for each one
of the members of his family, he should seek their authorization for
that purpose. In this case the Sadaqat-ul-fitr paid by him
will be valid on their behalf. If he did not pay the
Sadaqat-ul-fitr on 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 a Sunnah that the Sadaqat-ul-fitr is paid
before performing the 'Eid prayer. It can also be paid before
the 'Eid day, but it is not advisable to delay it up to the
performance of'Eid prayer. 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. The Sadaqat-ul-fitr is not necessary on behalf of a child
who was born after the break of dawn in the 'Eid day, nor is
it necessary to pay Sadaqat-ul-fitr on behalf of a person who
dies before the dawn of the Eid day.
4. Sadaqat-ul-fitr should be paid only to a person who is
entitled to receive Zakah.
The 'Eid Prayer
The second obligation on 'Eid
day is to perform the 'Eid prayer. Some rules in this respect
are mentioned hereunder:
- The Eid prayer is
Wajib (obligatory) on every male Muslim.
- The Eid prayer can
be performed any time between the Ishraq and Zawal.
- It is preferable that the
'Eid prayer is performed at an open field and not in 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.
- It is not advisable to hold
the 'Eid prayer in every mosque, rather it is preferable that
the people from several small mosques get together to either perform
it in an open field or, in its absence, in a big mosque which can
accommodate a large number of people.
- No Nafl Salah can be
performed before the 'Eid prayer, neither in one's home, nor
at the place of' Eid prayer. Similarly, Nafl prayer
cannot be performed after the Eid prayer at the same place.
However, it can be performed after one comes back to his home.
- The Eid prayer has
neither Adhan nor Iqamah.
How to Perform
Eid Prayer
The Eid Prayer has two
rak'ah to perform in the normal way, with the only addition of
six takbirs, three of them in the beginning of the first
rak'ah, and three of them just before ruku' in the second
rak'ah. The detailed way of performing the 'Eid prayer
is as follows:
The Imam will begin the
prayer without Adhan or Iqamah. He will begin the prayer
by reciting takbir of Tahrimah (Allahu Akbar). You
should raise your hands up to the ears, and reciting the takbir,
you give a little pause during which you should recite Thana' (Subhanak
Allahumma.......)· After the completion of Thana' the
Imam will recite takbir (Allahu Akbar) three times, and
after reciting each Takbir (Allahu Akbar) in a low voice, you
should bring your hands down and leave them earthwards. But, after the
third takbir, you should set them at the level of your navel as
you do in the normal prayer.
After these three takbirs
the Imam will recite the Holy Qur'an, which you should
listen quietly. The rest of the rak'ah will be performed in the
normal way.
After rising for the second
rak'ah, the Imam will begin the recitations from the Qur'an
during which you should remain calm and quiet. When the Imam
finishes his recitation, he will recite three takbirs once
again, but this time it will be before bowing down for ruku'. At each
takbir you should raise your hands up to the ears, and after
saying "Allahu Akbar' bring them down and leave them
earthwards. After these three takbirs have been called and
completed, the Imam will say another takbir for bowing
down into the ruku' position. At this takbir you need
not raise your hands. You just bow down for your ruku' saying,
'Allahu Akbar'. The rest of the Salah will be performed
in its usual way.
Khutbah: The Address of 'Eid-ul-fitr
In this Salah, Khutbah
is a Sunnah and is delivered after the Salah, unlike the
Salah of Jumu'ah where it is Fard and is delivered
before the Salah. However, listening to the Khutbah of 'Eid
Salah is wajib or necessary and must be heard in perfect
peace and silence.
It is a sunnah that the
Imam begins the first Khutba by reciting takbirs 'Allahu
Akbar' nine times and the second Khutbah with reciting it
seven times.
Note: The way of 'Eid
prayer described above is according to the Hanafi school of Muslim
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 in both rak'ah. This way is also
permissible. If the Imam, being of the Shafi'i school, follows
this way, you can also follow him. Both ways are based on the practice
of the Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam.
Six Fasts
in the Month of Shawwal
It is commendable to keep six
fasts in the month of Shawwal. The Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi 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)
This hadith had
described the great thawab of six fasts of this month.
Therefore, the Muslims should take this opportunity of acquiring such
an enormous reward from Allah. It is more preferable to start these
fasts from the 2nd of Shawwal and keep fasting up to the 7th of it.
However, if, they are kept in other days, it is hoped that the
requirement of the above hadith may also be fulfilled. |
