The Difference between Giving Up Sin and Being Made toGive Up Sin

Your corpse will not be able to cast lustful glances but that will not
warrant one any reward from AllahTa'ala, for the sacrifice of a corpse
is not acceptable in His court. Allah Ta'ala wants us to become His,
tosacrifice our desires, whims and fancies while hale and hearty,while
still alive and able to commit those sins. Why are you waiting forthat
time whendeath will reap your soul and you will be unable todisobey
Allah? This will be termed, 'being made to give up sins' andnot
'giving up sins'. Voluntarilygiving up sins while the choice to commit
them still exists within one will entail a lofty stage offriendship
with Allah Ta'ala. Bear the burden of leaving sins. If onedesires to
enjoy the pleasure of Allah's pleasure, bear the burden andexperience
thatpleasure wherein the burden itself will no longerremain a burden.

Story - Aladdin and the magic lamp

Long long time ago there lived animpoverished boy named Aladdin. He
found it difficult to meet ends as he lived it utter poverty. Until
one day an old manwalked up to him and said he was his uncle. As
Aladdin had losthis father and did really have an uncle he had never
seen, his mother welcomed this old man home. The next day, the uncle
gave Aladdin good clothes to wear and a tour of the city gardens.
Impressed with the makeover of her son, the mother readily agreed to
Aladdin working for the uncle.
But this old man was no uncle, infact he was a wicked magician who
wanted to use the services of the boy. So he took him along with him
though cities and gardens, until they reached a mountain. The magician
lit a fire and mumbled some words whichAladdin did not understand and
with a swish of the powder the ground beneath them opened.
Aladdin was afraid with the happenings but the magician assured him
that nothing would happen to him but he would have to listen to every
word he said. The magician told Aladdin toalight through the tunnel,
he would then come to a forked path with three ways, and he should
take the right and lead on until he came to fresh gardens. Right in
the centre of it would be a lamp that is glowing. Put off thelight,
remove the oil from it and bring the lamp back. But do not touch
anything else said the magician and led the boy down.
Oblivious of the essence of the lamp, Aladdin scampered throughthe way
and found the lamp. On his way back, he pocketed some fruits that were
shiny like he had never seen before. When he reached the opening, the
magician was glad and reached out his hand to take the lamp. Pullme
out first, said Aladdin but the magician refused. So Aladdin too
refused to give the lamp before being out in the open. So the angry
old man closed the ground above him.
Sobbing away, Aladdin's hand rubbed the lamp by mistake and out came a
genie. You are my master and I will do anything youcommand, it said.
Take me home said Aladdin and before he knew it, he was with his
mother. Instantaneously he related the entire story to look at his
mother's widened pupils. She summoned the genie to bring forth those
shiny fruits and food. And the two feasted for the first time in their
life. Life went well for a few years as their every wish came true.
Then one day he saw Jasmine, the daughter of the king and fell in love
with her. His mother madeproud presentations to the king with rich
gifts and fanfare. Looking at the magnanimous gifts the king readied
to give his daughter in marriage. Aladdin wished for a palace and the
samewas granted for the newly married couple.
The news of the grand palace spread far & wide and soon the evil
magician got to know of it. Soone day he went with a cart full of new
lamps shouting new for old. As Jasmine did not know the value of the
old lamp she exchanged it for a new one. And soon the magician
transposed the palace and the princess to Africa. Hearing this Aladdin
set out to rescue his love. With the help of the flying carpet and his
beloved monkey pet he found thelamp and summoned the genie toredo the
act.
He then punished the magician by adding poison to his drink that led
to the death of the old wicked man. Thereafter Aladdin his mother and
Jasmine lived happily ever after.

* 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 detailedway of performing the 'Eidprayer is as follows:
The Imam will begin the prayer without Adhan or Iqamah. He will begin
the prayer by reciting takbir ofTahrimah (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 setthem
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 Imamfinishes his recitation, he will recite three
takbirs once again, but this time itwill 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
waysare based on the practice of the Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa
sallam.

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. :->