Thakaabeir al Eidai’yn

Thakaabeir al Eidai’yn

Every Eid Day, Muslims reach the Masjid or Eidgah as early in the morning as they can. A group of them form the front row and keep reciting the Thakaabeir in a most melliflous unison.

This adds to the joy and euphoria of the Festival.

We may  memorize the beautiful Thakaabeir and their sweetness and joy will uplift our hearts and minds all through the year.

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar,

Laa Ilaaha IllAllah

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar

Walillahil Ham’d

Allahu Akbar Kabeera  Wal Ham’du Lillahi Katheeraa

Wa Sub’hanAllahi Bukrathan’v va Aseelaa

Laa Ilaaha IllAllahu Wah’dah, Sadaqa Va’adah

Va Nasara Abd’dah, va A’azza Jundah

Va Hazmal Ah’zaaba Vah’dah

Laa Ilaaha IllAllah

Va Laa Na’abudu Illaa Iyyaah

Mukhliseena Lahud Deena

Va Luv Karihal Kaafiroon.

How the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi va Sallam celebrated the Eidai'yn

How the Holy Prophet

Sallallahu Alaihi va Sallam celebrated

the Eidai'yn:

The Sunnah, the usual practice, of the Holy Prophet S.A.W.S. on the days of the two Eids:

Brushing the teeth with siwak, a wooden twig, and cleaning the mouth thoroughly.

Having a cleansing bath.

Donning a new or decent and clean dress.

Applying Ith'r  (perfume from herbal or floral essence, free of alcohol) to the body, hair and clothing.

Performing Salaah in the Eidgah. This is located in a peaceful environ, away from the bustling metropolis.

Going to, and returning from the Eidgah by foot (if it is not far).

Using two different routes, one for going to, and the other for returning from, the Eidgah.

Not performing any Naf’l Salaah either in the house or at the Eidga’h prior to or immediately after the Salaath al Eid.

Eating some dates and/or tasting a sweet dish.

On the Eidul Fith’r, giving away the Fith’r before proceeding to the Eidga’h for Salaah.

On Eidul Ad’haa day, retaining an empty stomach until after the sacrifice and then savoring the qurbani meat, cooked and served, as the first meal of the day.

Reciting the Thakbeir-e-Thashreekh while proceeding to the Eidgah or the Masjid: ALLAHU AKBAR,  ALLAHU AKBAR, LAA ILAAHA ILLALLAHU VALLAHU AKBAR,  ALLAHU AKBAR  VALILLAHIL HAM'D.

On Eidul Fith’r day, the Thakbeirs are recited in a subdued tone. On Eidul Ad’ha day, the tone is louder and more emphatic.

From the dawn of Zul Haj 9th to the evening of Zul Haj 13th, this Thakbeir  is recited once after every Far’d Salaah by the Imam and the assembly.

Chapter 

Salaath al Eidai’yn

How the Eid Prayers Are Performed

The Salaah is Wa’jib, that is, it ranks next only to the Far’d in importance.  It must be performed with joy and gratitude to Allah for the bounties He has blessed us with.

The Niy’yath may be stated in Arabi: 

NAWAI'YTHU AN UVAD’DIYA LILLAHI THA AALAA RAKAATHAI’YN SALAATHUL EIDUL-FITH'R/EIDUL-AD'HAA ILWA’JIBATHI MA'AA SITHTHI THAKBEIRAATHIN WA’JIBATHIN  IKH ‘THADHAI'YTHU BI HAAZIHIL IMAMEE MUTHAVAJ’JIHAA ILAA JIHATHIL KA’ABAHTHISH SHAREEF.

Or, in our own language: I state my intent to perform two Rakaah’s Wa’jib of the Salaah Eidul-Fith'r/Eidal-Adh'haa with six takbeers, for Allah, under the lead of this Imam and I am facing the blessed Ka’abahthullah".

With this, the Imam and the assembly raise their hands to ear level saying ALLAHU AKBAR and bring the hands down to their sides.  They recite the Sanaa SUB'HAANAKA ALLAHUMMA.… as in every Salaah. 

They again raise their hands to ear level three times saying ALLAHU AKBAR and bring the hands down to their sides, the pause between the Takbeirs equalling three recitations of SUB'HAANALLAH. After the third Takbeir, the hands are folded, the right over the left about the midriff, as in every Salaah. 

The Imam leads, as in every Salaah performed in congreation.  He recites  the Surah al Fathi’ha and another Surah from the Holy Qur’an,  in both the first and the second rakaah’s. 

In the second rakaah, before going into Rukooh, the Imam states ALLAHU AKBAR three times, with pauses in between as aforesaid.  In response, the entire assembly raise their hands to ear level and bring them down to their sides. 

Note:  The number of times the Thak’beir Allahu Akbar is stated by the Imam in this Salaah, varies from masjid to masjid.  We must follow the Imam and the local jama’ath, community, in this (as we did earlier, in the sighting of the crescent of Shawwwal) and maintain harmony in Islam.

Now the Imam calls ALLAHU AKBAR and the congregation, under his lead, go into Rukooh.

The rest of the Salaah follows the usual pattern.

The Imam's sermon, after the Salaah, is rendered in two parts.  We listen in rapt attention as on Fridays.

We disperse after Du’aa and embrace each other warmly, the men as brothers and the women as sisters of one another, in a true Muslim manner.  From each Muslim heart and on every Muslim lips, the sincere greetings of love and solidarity reach out:

 “Eid Mubarak! Baarak Allah! Kullu Aam va Anthum Bi Khair!”

May this Festival be most auspicious to you and your family!

May the year of Islam that commences today be of  peace, security and prosperity to all. Aameen!

The Festivals: Eid al Fith’r and Eid al Ad’haa

The Festivals:

 

Eid al Fith’r and Eid al Ad’haa

These are the two Festivals that bring immense joy and fulfillment to every Muslim.

Eidul Fith’r: After 29 to 30 days of rigorous fasting in the month of Ramadan we celebrate our great accomplishment.  We rejoice that the approval of Allah has been gained.  We decorate and beautify our homes, don new clothes, put on fragrances, give away Fith’r charity to the indigent and hasten to the Eidgah for Salaah. We also have a sumptuous feast and invite guests to it.

Fith’r,  the very special charity by which the festival is named, is another evidence of the economic advancement of the community as a whole, that Islam advocates.

Alham’dulillah! All praise to Allah! Allah, Our Lord and Benefactor, has indeed blessed us with earnings adequate to our needs. The Fith’r  is, therefore, obligatory on us.

We celebrate this glorious festival on the completion of a thrty day discipline we had imposed on ourselves and abided by in an exemplary manner.  There was every justification to name it the Ediual Ramadan.  But we call it the Eidul Fith’r, the Festival of Charity.

Festivals bring joy to the affluent and quite a few problems to those who are not able to meet all their needs. Whether we admit it or not, everyone of us has passed through times of stress and shortage. Deep within our hearts, we are aware of the sense of deprivation and even a measure of starvation that prevails,  at times, in some homes.

To bring them the light of happiness on this day of universal rejoicing, Allah has enjoined on us that we reach out to them and provide them this Fith’r.

Fith’r  is a specified quantity of wheat or rice that is given away to the needy.

This is computed according to the number of members in our family. In every masjid, we are informed, well before Eid, as to the exact measure and its cost equivalent, relative to the place where we live. 

Fith’r can be given in cash or grain).  It must be conveyed to whom it is due, even before we proceed to the masjid or eidgaah for the Eid prayers.

The Eid-al-Adh'haa: The 12th and last month of our calendar is Zul Hajj, the month of Haj.  On the 9th of this month, over two million Hajis assemble in the plain of Arafaath for the crowning glory of Haj-- the prayers, the Wukhoof of Arafaath. 

The Rahmath, the Mercy and Compassion, of Allah is nearest to them this day.  And every Haji prays directly to his/her Maker and secures the fulfillment of his/her highest aspirations.

The next day, Muslims all over the world, take part in the Salaah Eid al Adh'haa and hasten home to perform the holy rite of sacrifice.

In this way we celebrate and commemorate the sacrifice Prophet Syedina Ibrahim Alaihis Salaam performed five thousand years ago for Allah.

The Patriarch Prophet was ready to sacrifice one most beloved to him, his own son Ismail, to please Allah.  Blindfolding himself, he actually passed the knife across the throat of what he believed was his son.

But Allah ordained His Archangel Gibrayeel to substitute a sheep for the boy. It was the sheep that was indeed slaugtered.  And Ismail was safe.

The commemorative sacrifice is obligatory on all Muslims who can afford the cost of one or more animals, according to their economic status. 

They:

retain a third of the meat for themselves,

distribute a third to relatives and

give away the remainder to the poor. 

By this, every family, rich or poor, enjoys on the Eid day a square meal, enriched by the incomparable taste of qurbani meat.

The Eid Salaah’s are generally held in one or more open grounds and in major Masaajid.

It is better to hold this organized Salaah as early in the day as possible.  In the Harmain Sharifain this glorious Salaah is performed an hour and a half after Salaahul Faj'r.

The early performance of Salaah, especially in the Eid al Ad’haa will enable the assembly to return home sooner and attend to the sacrifice rites and to the speedy distribution of meat. As this auspicious meat is to be cooked and savoured for lunch, the quicker the rites are performed, the better for all. 

May Allah kindly accept this offering of His devoted slaves.  A’meen!

Except for the Wa’jib Salaah on the Eid morning that is held in congregation, no Naf’l Salaah’s are performed before or immediately after the Eid Salaah.

Aethikaaf, the Retreat to Masjid

Aethikaaf, 

 

the Retreat to Masjid

          Yet another glory of Ramadan is the obsevance of AethikaaAethikaaf in the last ten days of the Holy Month. In the last year of his life our beloved Prophet S.A.W.S. observed Aethikaaf for twenty days in Ramadan.

          Aethikaaf is the dedication to spend a considerable period of our time (in terms of hours or days) exclusively in a Masjid, in total devotion to Allah.  This can also be done any time during the year. We will gain innumerable blessings from Allah by observing it with sincerity and devotion.

          The highest form of Aethikaaf for us, is to spend the last ten days of Ramadan in any one of these most honored masaajid:

v the Holy Masjidul Haram of Makkathul Mukarramah or

v the Masjidun Nabavi S.A.W.S. in Madinathul Munawwarah o

v the Masjid al Aq’sa in Baithul Muqaddas   (in that order).

          For those of us who are unable to be in these Masaajid for the observance, it is best to be in Aethikaaf in the Juma'a Masjid of our own city (or in any other Masjid in our neigborhood or locality that is so designated and all Far’d salaah’s including Salaathul Juma'a  are performed in jama’ath there). Those who observe Aethikaaf  in other masaajid, must proceed to the Juma’a Masjid on Fridays and perform Salaathul Juma’a there.

The best duration for Aethikaaf

is from the Salaathul Magh’rib on the 20th of Ramadan

to the Salaathul Magh’rib on the last day of the month

(29th or 30th as the case may be).

We must be observing the Ramadan fast during the period

if our Aethikaf  is to be accepted by Allah.

          If no one volunteers to enter Aethikaaf in a particular Masjid, the people of that locality may not be gifted to the full extent of the Neymaath that will reach Muslims of other Masaajid, where Aethikaaf  is observed) in Ramadan. May Allahu Rabbul Izzath kindly save us and our near and dear ones from any sloth in this behalf.  Aameen!

Aethikaaf:

  -commences with our expressing the intent to observe it for Allah and making the Masjid our abode for the number of days we have decided to set apart for it. 

  -We dedicate our stay to special prayers, over and above the Jama’ath (congregational) prayers we will be performing. 

  -We must also recite the Holy Qur’an and engage in Zikr-e-Ilaahi, incantations of the blessed names of Allah. 

  -We are allowed to converse with others on Islami issues. But we must not engage in gossip or waste our time in senseless pursuits. 

  -Sex is forbidden for the entire period of our Aethikaf. 

  -We may have our meals brought to the Masjid and partake of them.  This, however, should be done with due respect to its sanctity as a House of Allah.  It is our duty to keep it clean. 

  -We may go out for toilet and for bath. But we must reside (pray and sleep) only in the Masjid during the Aethikaaf.

-Aethikaaf is a unique and uplifting experience that we must avail at least a few times in our life. 

  -Entrusting our home and our family and our business (or office) to the Protection of Allahu Sub’hanahu va tha Aalaa, we retire to the Masjid and enter this Devotional Workshop. 

-Whether other Muslims join us or not, we are here to uplift ourselves in our faith through Qur’anic recitation and a deep study of, and meditation on, Islami literature. 

  -If we are inspired to write, we can do so and convey to all the joy and fulfillment we have been awarded by Allah.

-And we practice with true devotion special prayers and Zik’r-e-Ilaahi (incantations of the blessed names of Allah) and send Darood-e-Shareef as often as we can to Our  Prophet S.A.W.S.

-And, as we are reminded of our family and our Muslim brothers and sisters who are outside the Masjid, in our country or abroad,we render them the best service we can: 

-We pray to Allahu Rabbul Izzath to kindly  pardon their sins, relieve any distress they are involved in and bless them with good health, happiness, enduring prosperity and the wealth of eemaan.

-May Allahu Rahmaanir Raheem kindly grant all of us, men and women in Islam, the good fortune to be observing Aethikaaf in the most devout manner possible year after year.

-May Our Glorious Creator kindly grant us an abode in Jannath.  A’meen!

 

Women, also, may observe Aethikaaf :

But this must be done within the home.

A portion of the house set apart for them and their prayers.  This will be their abode for the duration of the AethikaaAethikaaf.

They must devote their time there entirely to prayers, recitation of Holy Qur’an and Zikr-e-Ilaahi. They must not engage in cooking and other household chores.  But they can help in processing vegetables etc. if this can be done without moving from their place of Aethikaaf.

They must terminate their Aethikaaf if they start menstruating in that state.

If Muslim families around the world, wish to rediscover the glory of their faith, let them observe Aethikaaf in earnest and avail unlimited blessings form the Rah’math of Allahu Rabbul Izzath.

 

A beginning can be made with as little as one day in Ramadan and its radiance will fill their hearts and homes and inspire them to observe Aethikaaf on more and more days in the future.

 

The excellent result of this, by the Grace of Allah, will be, a glorious Muslim world of which all of us can be proud.