Personal, - Attending the 'Eed Prayers

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Islam has honored women and made her equal with men with regards to obligatory acts of worship. One example that manifests this equality, is that women are encouraged )as are men( to attend public gatherings on‘Eed Al-Fitrand‘Eed Al-Adh-ha, so that they may take part in these blessed occasions.
This is demonstrated in a number of narrations reported by Al-Bukhaari and Muslim, may Allaah have mercy upon them, in which the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, commanded that:"All the women should come out on these occasions, including adolescent and prepubescent girls, those who usually remained in seclusion, and virgins".
He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, even commanded that:"Menstruating women should come out, to take part in the joyous occasion, but they were to keep away from the prayer-place itself".
His, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, concern that all women should attend the prayer on the two ‘Eedswas so great that he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, ordered:"The one who had more than one Jilbaab )outer garment( to give one to her sister who had none."In this way he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, encouraged both the attendance of all women at ‘Eedprayers and mutual support and help to do good and righteous deeds.
TheseSaheehnarrations give a clear indication of the concern of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, for the intellectual and spiritual benefit of women. He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, ordered all the women to go out to the‘Eedprayer, including those who were menstruating, even though menstruating women are excused from praying and are not allowed to enter the prayer-place itself. But his call, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was addressed to all women, because of his concern that they should take part in these two blessed events and attend the righteous gathering of the Muslims, joining in theTakbeeratand supplications, and being a part of the public life of Islam which is discussed in theKhutbahthat is delivered after the ‘Eedprayer.
The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was concerned with the teaching and guidance of women, and wanted them to play a part in building the Muslim society, so he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, devoted part of hisKhutbahto women. He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would come to the place where the women were gathered, and exhort and remind them to spend in charity. ]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
According to this narration, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, exhorted and reminded the women, and accepted thecharity that they themselves willingly gave. Another narration, adds that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, also reminded the women of theirBay`ah)oath of allegiance( and reconfirmed their adherence to it ]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
There is no doubt that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, addressed the women in the‘Eedprayer-place, reminding them about their religion, and that he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, took charity from them, reconfirmed their adherence to their oath of allegiance, enjoined them to remember the teachings of Islam, and motivated them to do good works. All of this was achieved by calling them to attend the congregational prayer on both ‘Eeds. This is indicative of the importance of the'Eedprayer in the life of the Muslim woman and the Islamic society.

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