Eid 101

WHEN IS IT?

Eid is a joyful celebration with a very important religious significance.  

EID-al-Fitr is celebrated the first day of Shawal which is right after the last day of the month of Ramadan, marking the end of the fasting month.

EID-Al-Adha happens the 10th of Dhul Hijjah about two months after Ramadan ( refer to an Islamic calender ).

WHAT TIME IS IT PRAYED?

The Eid prayer is prayed when the sun is above the horizon about an arrow length to when it is on zenith ( midday).

HOW IS IT PRAYED?

there would be a two rakkaas  salat with no athan and no Iqamah. The Iman will offer 7 takbirs ( Allahu Akbar) and 5 takbirs in the 2nd rakkaa while reciting Quran out loud. After the prayer he will give a khutbah. No Sunnah prayer have to be offered before or after.

WAJIB?

It is a must (wajib)  to pray the Eid prayer. It is reported that The Prophet (SAWS) and his companions always prayed the Eid salat.They used to even gather the whole community including children, women in their menses and the elderly. (Bukhari and Muslims).

ON THE WAY TO EID PRAYER

Take a bath, wear your best clothes ), eat dates to show that you are not fasting (all of those are sunnah of the Prophet (SAWS))  Say Allahou akbar out loud throughout the day cause Allah (SWT) says :" Ramadan is the month in which was sent down the Quran....so that you may do Takbir for what He has guided you to; so that you may be grateful" (Surah al Baqarah :185).

 for  Eid al-Fitr the time for takbir is from magrib the night before until Eid prayer is completed.

When the companions of the Prophet (SAWS) meet each other on the day of Eid ,they would say to one another:' May Allah accept your good deeds and ours"

When returning home after prayer take a route  different from the one used going to the masjid. Jabir (RA) reported thet the Prophet (SAWS) used to come back from Eid prayer on a path other than the one he used going, (Bukhari)

Eid Takbir




Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar 
Allah is Great, Allah is Great 


اللّهُ أكبر 
Allahu Akbar 
Allah is Great 


لا إلَهَ الا اللّه 
La illaha il Allah 
there is no God, but Allah 


اللّهُ أكبر اللّهُ اكبر 
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar 
Allah is Great, Allah is Great 


و لِلّه الحمدَ 
walilahil Hamd 
to Him belongs all Praise 


اللّهُ أكبرُ كَبيِرَا 
Allahu Akbaru Kabeera 
Allah is the Greatest 


وَالحَمدُ لِلّهِ كَثِيرا 
wal-Hamdulilahi katheera 
And all Praise is due to Him 


وَ سُبحَان اللّهِ 
wa Subhan allahi 
And Glory to Allah 


بُكرَةً وَأصْيِلا 
bukratan wa aseila 
eventide and in the morning 


لا إلَهَ الا اللّه 
La illaha il Allah 
there is no God, but Allah the Unique 


صَدَقَ وَعدَه 
sadaqa wa'dah 
He has fulfilled His Promise 


وَنَصَرَ عبده 
wa nasara abda 
and made Victorious His servant 


وأعزَ جُنَده 
wa a'azza jundahu 
and made Mighty His soldiers 


وَهزم الأحْزَابَ وحْدَه 
wa hazamal-ahzaaba wahdah 
and defeated the confederates 


لا إلَهَ الا اللّه 
La illaha il Allah 
there is no God, But Allah 


وَلا نَعبُد الا أياه 
wa laa na'budu illa iyyah 
He alone we worship 


مُخلِصِّينَ لَهُ الدّيِنَ 
mukhlessena lahud-deena 
with sincere and exclusive devotion 


وَلوْ كَرِهَ الكَافِروُن 
walaw karehal-Kafeeroon 
even though the idolaters hate it 


اللّهمَ صَلِّ على سيْدنَا مُحَمد 
Allahumma salli ala sayyedna Muhammad 
O Allah, have Mercy on our Prophet Muhammad 


وَعَلى آلِ سيْدنَا مُحَمد 
wa ala aalie sayyedna Muhammad 
and on the family of our Prophet Muhammad 


وَعَلى اصْحَابِ سيْدنَا مُحَمد 
wa ala as-haabie sayyedna Muhammad 
and on the companions of our Prophet Muhammad 


وَعَلى أنصَارِ سيْدنَا مُحَمد 
wa ala ansari sayyedna Muhammad 
and on the helpers of our Prophet Muhammad 


وَعَلى أزوَاجِ سيْدنَا مُحَمد 
wa ala azwajie sayyedna Muhammad 
and on the wives of our Prophet Muhammad 


وَعَلى ذُرِّيَةِ سيْدنَا مُحَمد 
wa ala dhurreyatie sayyedna Muhammad 
and on the progeny of our Prophet Muhammad 


وَ سَلّم تَسْلِيماَ كَثّيرا 
wa sallim tasleeman katheera 
and Bestow upon them much peace.

May Allah accept our efforts. May we live to see the next Ramadan. Ameen.

Maximize the Last Ten Days of Ramadan

Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Power) is described in the Quran as "better than a thousand months" (97:3). Any action done on this night such as reciting the Quran, remembering Allah, etc. is better than acting for one thousand months which do not contain the night of Qadr. Allah's Messenger used to exert himself in devotion during the last ten nights to a greater extent than at any other time" (Muslim). Allah's peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet. Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, related that the Prophet said: Look for Laylatul Qadr on an odd-numbered night during the last ten nights of Ramadan (Bukhari). The Prophet said: "Whoever prays during the night of Qadr with faith and hoping for its reward will have all of his previous sins forgiven" (Bukhari and Muslim recorded from Abu Huraira). Here are some tips of things we can do on the Night of Power and the time before and after it. 1. Make this special Dua Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her said: I asked the Messenger of Allah: 'O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night is the night of Qadr, what should I say during it? He said: 'Say: O Allah, You are pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me'" (Ahmad, Ibn Majah and Tirmidhi). The transliteration of this Dua is "Allahumma innaka 'afuwwan tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'annee" 2. Recite the Quran Perhaps you can choose Surahs of passages from the Quran, which you have heard in Tarawih this past Ramadan to recite. 3. Reflect on the meaning of the Quran. Choose the latest Surahs you've heard in Tarawih and read their translation and tafsir. Then think deeply about their meaning and how it affects you on a personal level. 4. Get your sins wiped out. Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger said: Whoever stands (in prayer) in Laylatul Qadr while nourishing his faith with self-evaluation, expecting reward from Allah, will have all of his previous sins forgiven (Bukhari and Muslim). Don't just pray using the shorter Surahs you know. Try to make your prayers longer, deeper and meaningful. If you are familiar with longer Surahs, read the translation and explanation and then pray reciting these Surahs, carefully reflecting on the meaning while you pray.  Even if you are only familiar with the shorter Surahs, read the translation and explanation beforehand and then pray reflecting on the message of the Surahs. This is a good way to develop the habit of concentration, even in regular prayers, where many of us tend to be fidgety and/or easily distracted. 5. Make a personal Dua list. Ask yourself what you really want from Allah. Make a list of each and everything no matter how small or big it is, whether it deals with this world or not. Allah loves to hear from us. Once this list is ready, you can do three things: Ask Allah to give you those things Think about what actions you have taken to get those things And develop a work plan to get those things in the future. 6. Evaluate yourself. Ask yourself those questions that need to be asked. Do an evaluation of where you are and where you are going. Let this evaluation lead you to feel happiness for the good you have done and remorse for the bad you have done. This latter feeling should make it easier to seek Allah's sincere forgiveness when making the Dua mentioned in tip number one above. 7. Make long, sincere and deep Duas.  One of the best times to do this is during the last part of the night.  Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, related that the Prophet said: “When the last one-third of the night remains, our Lord the Glorious One descends towards the heaven of the earth and proclaims: Who is that one supplicates for Me, and I grant his supplication? Who is that who begs Me for anything and I grant it to him? And who is that who seeks My forgiveness, and I forgive him? “(Bukhari, Muslim). That means, for instance, waking up one hour before Suhoor time to ask Allah for anything and everything you want that is Halal. This can be done using the Duas of the Sunnah, but also the Dua in your own language, with sincerity and conviction. 8. Memorize a different Dua every night.  They don't have to be long. They can just be one line. And be sure to know what they mean generally at least, even if you don't know the exact translation in English. You can put them on index cards (or and keep them with you during the day, glancing at them during work, while driving, waiting in line, etc) Then practice them at night in prayer. 9. Attend the Dua after the completion of Quran recitation. Almost all Masjids where the Imam aims to finish an entire reading of the Quran in Tarawih prayers in Ramadan will be completing their recitation in these last ten nights. They may try to end on one of the odd nights and read the Dua at the end of a reading of the Quran. Attend this particular night's Tarawih prayer to join in the dua. 10. Finish reading a book on the Prophet. Read about the Prophet's life, which can increase your love for him and Islam by seeing how much he struggled for Allah's sake. It may inspire you to push yourself even harder during these last ten nights. This community is built on sacrifice. 11. Plan for the next year. Once you've done a self-evaluation, you can plan on where you want to go, at least in the next 12 months. Laylatul Qadr is a great night to be thinking about this (without taking away from your worship), since you'll InshaAllah be in a more contemplative state. You may choose to dedicate one night for evaluation and one night for planning the next year. 12. To do list for the Night of Power.  Make a to-do checklist for each possible Night of Power. This should define how you would like your night, the one better than a thousand months to be used. Pick things from this list and define the sequence you would like to do things in. Author: Abdul Malik Mujahid Source : www.religionatlums.com

The virtues of Surah Ikhlass (112)

Anas mentioned that a man said to the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) , ‘I really love this surah’. The Prophet replied, ‘And your love for it will enable you to enter paradise’
[at-Tirmidhi 2826/A, Riyad as-Salihin by Imam an-Nawawi Ch.183 #1013]

Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said about the surah, “Say: He is Allah, Absolute Oneness” (112), ‘By Him in Whose hand my soul is, it is equal to one third of the Qur’an!’
[Sahih al-Bukhari 6:61 #533, Riyad as-Salihin by Imam an-Nawawi Ch.183 #1010]

“Qul Hu Allahu Ahad” is equal to a third of the Qur’an and “Qul ya ayyuhal Kafirun” is equal to a fourth of the Qur’an.”
[at-Tabarani, classed as Sahih]

Abu Huraira (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said that “Say: He is Allah, Absolute Oneness” is equal to a third of the Qur’an.

[Muslim, Riyad as-Salihin by Imam an-Nawawi Ch.183 #1012]

Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas and Anas Ibn Malik (radiAllahu anhum) reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Whoever recited Surah Zilzilah (99) would get the reward of reciting half the Qur’an. Whoever recited surah al Kafirun (109) would get a reward as if reading a quarter of the Qur’an. Whoever recited Surah al Ikhlas (112) would get a reward as if reading one third of the Qur’an’.
[at-Tirmidhi 2818/A]

Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said to his Companions, “Are any of you unable to recite a third of the Qur’an in a night?” That was difficult for them and they said, “Which of us is able to do that, Messenger of Allah?” He said, “[The surah] ‘Say: He is Allah, Absolute Oneness, Allah, the Everlasting Sustainer of all’ (112) constitutes a third of the Qur’an.’”
[Sahih al-Bukhari 6:61 #534, Riyad as-Salihin by Imam an-Nawawi Ch.183 #1010]

A’isha (radiAllahu anha) reported that whenever the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) went to bed every night, he used to cup his hands together and blow over it after reciting Surat Al-Ikhlas, Surat Al-Falaq and Surat An-Nas, and then rub his hands over whatever parts of his body he was able to rub, starting with his head, face and front of his body. He used to do that three times.
[Sahih al-Bukhari 6:61 #536]