4] Eid-ul-Fitr and its injunctions

4]
Eid-ul-fitr
The second meritorious aspect of Shawwal is that it has been chosen by AllahAlmighty for the celebration of "Eid-ul-fitr", one of the only two annual festivals recognizedby the Shari'ah. This happyday 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 anotherunique 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 livelihoodat least on that day of happiness.
After paying the "Sadaqat-ul-fitr", the Muslims are required to proceed to an open place where they canoffer the Eid prayer collectively. In this way, they are supposed to present themselves before their Creator and offer tworak'ats of this special type of Salah, which makes them receive blessings from Allah and start their celebration by these divineblessings.
After the Salah also, they are supposed to rejoice theday 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 forobserving 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 asthe 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, andshould 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:
1. To wake up early in the morning.
2. To clean one's teeth with a Miswaak or a brush.
3. To take a bath.
4. To put on one's best available clothes.
5. To wear perfume.
6. To eat a sweet food, preferably dates, before the Eid prayer.
7. To recite the following Takbir in the low voice while going to the 'Eid prayer:
Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar La Ilaha Ila Allah Wa AllahuAkbar Allahu Akbar Wa Lillahi Alhamd
Eid Prayer:
The second obligation on 'Eid day is to perform the 'Eid prayer. Some rules in this respect are mentionedhereunder:
1. The Eid prayer is Wajib (obligatory) on every maleMuslim.
2. The Eid prayer can be performed any time between the Ishraq and Zawal.
3. 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 ina big mosque.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. The Eid prayer has neither Adhan nor Iqamah. :->

Eid-Ul-Fitr Prayer Ceremony

Eid-ul-fitr is one of the most important festivals of Muslims. Just
after the Ramadan, Muslims celebrate Eid-ul-fitr. All thepreparations
are done before hand for the occasion. Eid-ul-fitr prayer is the
integral part of Eid, which is worth mentioning.
Muslims wear new clothes early in the morning on this day. According
to the practices followed by the prophet Muhammad of conducting Eid
Prayers in open grounds therefore Eid prayers are carried in open sky.
All the Muslims visit Mosque (masjid) in the morning on this day and
recite the Takbir 揳llahu Akbar, allahu Akbar� meaning Allah is great
justbefore the prayer ceremony.
Once the Eid Ul fitr moon issighted the preparations for Eid Ul fitr
Celebrations begins.Soon after the Eid Prayer khutba or Islamic cermon
is delivered. The person reciting the Khutbais the lead of the prayer
and is called the khateeb.anyone can recite the Khutba provided that
he is male along with physical and mental purity.
Attending Khutba is not obligatory as attending the Eid prayer is
obligatoryfor all the male Muslims. Prophet also commanded all the
women to attend the prayers too. A Muslim can leave the Khutba
whenever he wishes to but not the prayer.
After khutba follows the Eid Dua. Large masses of Muslims assemble in
the mosque for the Eid Prayer ceremonies. The rush can be noticed
outside the mosque on the Eid day. Some people carry bags tokeep their
footwear抯 safe and one must carry musallas or sheets to sit on the Eid
prayer ground to pray.
After Eid-Ul-Fitr Prayer
Eid-Ul-Fitr is the festival to spread happiness and loveamong all the
relatives and near and dear one抯. After the prayer on this day there
is a get togetherat all the Muslims houses where all their near and
dear one抯 accompany them in the Eid meals. Muslims wish each other Eid
Mubarak that means Happy Eid. All the children receive gifts as a
token of love from all their relativesas Eid is the day to exchange
gifts among each other. The entire is day is marked with the triumph
and happiness spread all around and adding to the occasion of
Eid-Ul-Fitr.

Arab states announce Eid al-Fitr celebration to be marked Sunday

By AL ARABIYA
The Muslim feast of Eid al-Fitr marking the end of the holy month of
Ramadan is to start on Sunday in Saudi Arabia, the kingdom's religious
authorities announced.
Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Yemen, Libya and the United Arab Emirates also
announced the celebration to be marked on Sunday, following the
sighting of the new moonthat will mark the beginning of the lunar
month of Shawal, which follows the fasting monthof Ramadan in the
Muslimhijri calendar.
Throughout the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims abstain from drinking,
eating, smoking and sexual intercourse from sunrise to sunset.
Ramadan fasting is one ofthe five pillars of Islam, alongside the
belief in theOneness of God, the finality of the prophethood of
Mohammed, establishment of the dailyprayers, concern for and
almsgiving to the needy, and the lesser pilgrimage to Mecca for those
who are able.
Eid al-Fitr is one of the two biggest Muslim holidays of the year,
oftencompared to Christmas in its significance and revelry. The other
major holiday is the sacrificial feast of Eid al-Adha, at theend of
the hajj, the annualpilgrimage to Mecca.
In predominantly Muslim countries, the celebration can last for three
days. Muslims fill the mosques early in the morning to attend the
congregationalEid prayers.

Nigeria: Welcoming Eid El-Fitr

analysis
The rate at which time flies nowadays is phenomenal, and it challenges
us to set and pursue our order of priorities diligently and
appropriately. The euphoria of welcoming the month of Ramadan has
hardly died down when we begin to bid it farewell and welcome Eid
el-Fitr (Sallah), which we look forward to celebrating tomorrow or the
day after tomorrow asthe case may be.
Interestingly, Eid in Nigeria inspires such a unique excitement, which
surpasses what is obtained even in the countries regarded as the
cradle of Islam, the rich Arabian Gulf countries. Perhaps it is the
intense pressure an average Nigerian goes through in order to secure
and provide Eid related stuff and services to themselvesand their
dependents that provides the Eid atmosphere with such an exuberant
pulse that inspires tremendous enthusiasm for it.
For instance, the stress associated with the hustle and bustle to
secure the means to provide kayan sallah, tuwon sallah and indeed some
cash for yawon Sallah and other Eid-related activities is so enormous
that the joy of aperson who manages to secure such things in time
extends into the Eid days and gives the event such aspecial taste of
joy.
By the way, it is really pathetic that an average Nigerian Muslim has
become so poor to the extent that he merely looks forward to
celebrating the Eid in terms of enjoying some relatively better
quality foods and wearing some new clothes, which he ordinarily only
dreams of. This explains his apparent high consumption of the rare and
relatively abundant delicacies available during the Eid festivities.
For instance, he consumes a lot of meat, particularly during the Eid
el-Adha when meat is relatively easily accessible,apparently to quench
his burning appetite for it once and for all, as a resultof which he
upsets his stomach and ends up withdiarrhoea and other stomach-related
illnesses.
Incidentally, hardly anybody raises alarm overthis annual predictable
endemic diarrhoea amongst many people much less take any precautionary
measures. In many places, though, towards the Eid el-Adha
inparticular, demand for dates and kanwa increasesdramatically on the
assumption that they cureor perhaps prevent diarrhoea, which many
people deliberately brace up to suffer as a result of such high, and
sometimes reckless, intake of meat within a short period of time.
However, while the poor Nigerian chap regards such things as rare
luxuries, his counterpart inthe rich Arabian Gulf doesn't have that
level of joy during Eid because he is not looking forward to enjoying
anything he has taken for granted, which further explains the relative
dullness of the Eidin this region compared with countries like
Nigeria.
This is in spite of the enormous challenges associated with the
preparation for the festivities in Nigeria. For instance, tailors, who
are notorious for breaking promises, deprive many people of the joy of
wearing their kayan sallah, which inevitably affects their sense of
excitement during the festivities.
Unfortunately, this year's Eid will be particularly unexciting to many
people due to two prevailing phenomena; one of which is natural and
the other largely leadership-inflicted. The natural one is, of course,
the current climatic condition which has already caused floods in many
areas, while the leadership-inflicted is the persistent deterioration
ofsecurity situation in the country, which, for instance, is
presumably the real reason behind thesuspension of the grand durbar
festivities in Kano by the state's emirate council.
Although the Eid el-Fitr is called Karamar Sallah suggesting that it
is less significant than Eid el-Adha (Babbar Sallah), the former
inspires more enthusiasm than the latter. This is quite understandable
because the Eid el-Fitr falls after nine months from the last Eid
occasion while Eid el-Adha falls just a little over two months from
marking the Eid el-Fitr. Also, the Eid el-Fitr is immediately preceded
by Ramadan fasting of one full month, the ending of which attracts
celebration.
Ironically, however, despite the festive mood and celebratory
atmosphere of Eid in Nigeria, there emerges an unnecessary wave of
hunger of a sort as result of a self-inflicted food scarcity during
the Eid days. Although I don't know what obtains elsewhere in the
country, in my hometown of Kano and perhaps in the neighbouring
states, one can't understand why, though so many households offer
tuwon sallah, they hardly care to prepare any other meal for the rest
of the day and perhaps for the next day. Instead they prefer to keep
warming the same tuwon sallah repeatedly to have it for launch and for
dinner as well.