Eid-il-Fitr (Sallah after Ramadan Fasting)

The Talk, which is the last for this year, would this week, inshaa Allah, discusses the rulings on Zakaatul Fitr and Eid-il-Fitr.Anas bn Malik (companion of the Prophet, pbuh) reported that Allah’s messenger (pbuh) came to Al-Madina while the people were engaged in an annual two-day game and told them that Allah has substituted something […]

The Talk, which is the last for this year, would this week, inshaa Allah, discusses the rulings on Zakaatul Fitr and Eid-il-Fitr.
Anas bn Malik (companion of the Prophet, pbuh) reported that Allah’s messenger (pbuh) came to Al-Madina while the people were engaged in an annual two-day game and told them that Allah has substituted something better for them, namely, the day of sacrifice (Eid-ul-Adha) and the day of breaking the fast (Eid-ul-Fitr).
 Accordingly, acts and celebrations of all kinds are allowed on Sallah day, provided they are in accordance with the Shari’a (Islamic law).
Those that could lead to sin or contradict Allah’s law or His Prophet’s (pbuh) teachings such as fornication and the consumption of alcohol are however not allowed on Sallah or any other day.
 We also wish to remind our brothers and sisters in Islam that Sallah day is not merely a day of celebration, but also a day on which mankind should seek Allah’s blessings and offer supplications to Him.
 Upon the sighting of a new moon on the twenty ninth day of the month of Ramadan or after the thirtieth day of Ramadan fasting, the Eid-ul-Fitr celebration is held on the following day.
Commenting on Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha, Umma Atiya (a female companion of the prophet, pbuh) enjoined the young women, children, adult males and females, as well as menstruating women to participate in the goodness and supplications of Muslims; but the menstruating women are to refrain from the prayers.
 This means that Eid prayer is compulsory on every Muslim, male and female. This is because the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) has ordered the Muslims (men and women) to observe it (Bukhari and Muslim). This means that no child or adult is exempted from the Eid prayer, which would normally be performed at an Eid praying ground on the outskirt of every town.
However, if it is wet or not possible to find a suitable outdoor place, it can be prayed in a mosque or a large hall. This is the day of celebration when Muslims should come out en masse to show their number.
 It is preferred for one to take a ritual bath before going to Eid ground and dress in his best clothes.
Eid prayer should be offered when the sun is obvious above the horizon. That is from the time when the observance of nafl (supererogatory) prayer is allowed after Fajr prayer.
Eid prayer is two raka’at. The prayer is performed without Adhan and Iqama (the call to prayer and its beginning). Having formulated the intention (niyya), one utters Takbir – Allahu Akabar (Allah is great) seven times in the first raka’a and five times in the second raka’a.
The recitation of the Qur’an (Fatiha and Surah) follows the Takbir.
It is recommended that sura al-A’ala and al-Ghashiyah be recited in the first and second rak’a respectively after al-Fatihah (Muslim, Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi). Some authentic Hadeeths however, confirmed that the Prophet (pbuh) sometime recites surats al-Qaf and al-Qamar (Muslim, Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi). If one did not memorise any of the above, he can recite any portion of the holy Qur’aan.
 Bukhari reported in a hadith that the Prophet (pbuh) did not go out on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr unlike the day of Eid-ul-Adha, until he had had some food or dates. Therefore, it is recommended that Muslims should eat before going to the Eid prayer ground.
The Prophet (pbuh) used to perform the ritual bath before going to the Eid prayer ground. He used to recite Allahu Akbaru-Allahu Akbar; La’ilaha’illallah. Allahu Akbaru-Allahu Allahu Akbar; walillahil hamdu. (Allah is great, Allah is great. There is no deity worthy of worship except him. Allah is great, Allah is great, All praises are due to Allah) on his way from his house up to the Eid prayer ground and back.
 The above recitation is to be continued upon arrival at the Eid prayer ground until the prayer begins. After the prayer, the recitation is to be continued until one return to one’s home.
 The Imam will offer the Khutba (religious talk or sermon) after the Eid prayer. He will stand facing the people, who should remain seated in their rows, as he preaches to them and exhort them. Listening to the sermon is as much Sunnah for all in attendance as the prayer. Bukhari and Muslim reported this as the practice of the Prophet (pbuh).
The Prophet (pbuh) used to offer two raka’at on his return home from the Eid prayer. Bukhari reported that Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) would return home on an Eid day by a different route from the one he had taken when going out. The faithful are enjoined to follow the example of the Prophet (pbuh), that they may testify to the worship of Allah and make the splendor of Islam more prominent.
The above rulings on Eid-ul-Fitr are by no means exhaustive.

ZAKAATUL-FITR or SADAQATUL-FITR (FAST BREAKING CHARITY)
 This is an obligatory charity to be extended by all well-to-do Muslims before the prayer of Eid-ul-Fitr. It is valid when given before the Eid prayer, or two or three days before the Sallah day.
 The essence is to enable the poor Muslims to participate in the celebration, who may otherwise have nothing to put on the table on a day that all Muslims should be celebrating. The Prophet (pbuh) enjoined Muslims to give out Zakat-ul-Fitr to the poor, so that they are freed from going round begging on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr.
 Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) prescribed the Zakat-ul-Fitr payable by a slave, freeman, a male and a female, the young and the old among the Muslims upon coming to an end of Ramadan fasting, before going to Eid prayers, as one Sa’i (about 2.5 kilogramme) of dried dates or barley for all the family members irrespective of age and commanded that this should be given out before the Eid prayer.
 Therefore, if there are ten members in a family for instance, it means ten Sa’i should be given. Zakat-ul-Fitr is given out from the common food of a given community.
 We should fear Allah to give out Zakatu-ul-Fitr from what we can afford. The person who can afford rice, for example, should not give out maize.
 Ibn Abbas (companion of the Prophet, pbuh) reported that Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) prescribed Zakat-ul-Fitr to purify the fasting person from empty and obscene talk and feed the poor. If anyone gives it before the Eid prayer, it will be accepted as Zakat. If given after the prayer, it is counted as sadaqa (alms). This hadith is considered sound by Al-Hakim.
 This implies that Sadaqat-ul-Fitr (fast breaking charity) given after Eid prayer does not absolve one from the obligation of Zakat-ul-Fitr, nor does one get the reward associated with it. However, the act shall not go in vain, as one will get the reward of an ordinary act of charity.
 This brings our contribution on the observances of the holy month of Ramadan, this year, to an end. We ask Allah to help us remember Him, thank Him properly, and earn His forgiveness with our Ramadan observances, that we may be saved from the hellfire and celebrate our Sallah peacefully with the fear of Allah.
 We pray to Allah to forgive all the mistakes we committed in the course of writing this column. We ask Him to ignore our shortcomings and grant us His Aljannatul Firdaus.
 We sincerely appreciate our readers’ contribution to this work. Thank you very much. We would, inshaAllah, come your way next year.
Wassalamu Alaikum Warahamatullahi Wabarakatuhu!