RAMADHAN

Though the entire month of Ramadan are full of blessings and rewards, its last ten days hold a special status reflected in the recommendations and practices of the Messenger of Allah, salla Allahu alaihi wa Sallam, and his companions. I will focus here on three major practices of the Prophet, Salla Allahu alaihi wa Sallam, and his companions during these days.

1. Praying in the last ten nights of Ramadan.
Al-Bukhari and Muslim record from 'Aishah that during the last ten days of Ramadan, the Messenger of Allah would wake his wives up during the night and then remain apart from them (that is, being busy in acts of worship). A narration in Muslim states: “He would strive [to do acts of worship during the last ten days of Ramadan more than he would at any other time.” Aisha reported that With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet (Pbuh) used to tighten his waist belt (i.e. work hard) and used to pray all the night, and used to keep his family awake for the prayers. [Bukhari]

2. Performing I'tikaf in the Masjid (seclusion in the Mosque)
I'tikaf is the seclusion and staying in the mosque with the intention of becoming closer to Allah. This was the practise of the Prophet, Salla Allahu alaihi wa Sallam, during the last ten days of Ramadan especially. He would do it during other months as well.
'Aisha reported that the Messenger of Allah, Salla Allahu alaihi wa Sallam, used to practise I`tikaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan and used to say, “Look for the Night of Qadr in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadhan” [Bukhari]

3. Seeking Lailatul-Qadr (the Night of Decree)
It is the greatest night of the year like the Day of 'Arafah is the greatest day of the year. It is a night about which Allah revealed a full Surah, Suratul-Qadr [97:1-5] and the 3rd to the 6th verses of Surat ad-Dukhan [44:3-6]
It is the night when the Qur'an was revealed. It is the night when the Message (the Final and seal of all messages) sent to Muhammad, Salla Allahu alaihi wa Sallam, started It is the night when the light, that would illuminate mankind to the end of life, started. It is the night when every matter of ordainment is decreed. A person who misses Lailatul-Qadr is really a deprived person!

Regulations Relating to 'Eid Prayer

1. If a person misses the 'Eid prayer, he cannot offer it individually, for the 'Eid prayer is conditioned upon congregation. Similarly, if the prayer of a person who joined in the congregation is invalidated due to some reason, he cannot offer it later as a missed prayer, nor is it incumbent upon him to do so. However, a few persons who have missed the prayer can get together and offer it if they so desire.

2. There is neither Azan nor Iqamah for the 'Eid Prayers.

3. Women and the men who cannot offer the 'Eid Prayers due to some reason, should not offer any voluntary prayer before the 'Eid prayer'.

4. The Ahl al-Hadith scholars maintain the view that women and children have been enjoined to attend the 'Eid prayer, because the 'Eid, like the Friday Prayer, is a special feature of Islam, and the holy Prophet (Pbuh) himself has exhorted the women to go to the 'Eid ground.
Hadrat Umm'atiyyah has narrated; “The holy Prophet (Pbuh) commanded us that we should take un-married young girls and grown-up women, even the menstruating ones, along with us to the 'Eid ground. The menstruating women, however, are not to attend the prayer, but should sit aside and keep on pronouncing the Takbir, and join only in the supplications. I asked, 'O Prophet of Allah! what about those who do not have the over-garment to cover themselves up?” The holy Prophet (Pbuh) replied; The one having an over-garment should take her sister along with her.” (Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmizi)

5. If a person joins the 'Eid prayer when the Imam has already pronounced the Takbirs and is reciting the Quran, he should pronounce the Takbirs after expressing intention for the prayer. If he joins in the Ruku position, he should pronounce the Takbirs, instead of the usual Tashibh, without raising the hands. If the Imam resumes the standing position before the late-comer has been able to pronounce the required number of Takbirs, he should also resume the standing position after the Imam; the remaining Takbirs are excused.

6. If Imam forgets to pronounce the additional Takbirs and remembers this in the Ruku position, he should pronounce them even in that position instead of resuming the standing position for the purpose; but even if he resumes the standing position, the prayer will not be invalidated.

7. It is undesirable to say a voluntary prayer in the 'Eid ground or elsewhere before or after the 'Eid prayer'.

8. If a person has missed the 'Eid Prayer, he should not say it later as a missed prayer, because the 'Eid prayer cannot be said later individually.

9. Jurists have agreed that the 'Eid prayer may be held at more than one place in the city. The people who cannot go out to the 'Eid ground may offer the prayer in the city according to their convenience.

10. The recitation in the 'Eid prayer is to be audible.
The Imam should preferably recite Surahs al-A'ala (87) and Al-Ghashiyah (88) or Surahs Qaf (50) and Al-Qamar (54) as was the practice of the holy Prophet (Pbuh) himself.

Significance of Eid-ul-Fitr
Prescribed Works on Ed-ul-Fitr
The following eleven things have been prescribed to be done on Eid-ul-Fitr;

1. To rise early in the morning.
2. To brush the teeth.
3. To have bath for Eid after the Fajr Prayer.
4. To put on the best available dress.
5. To use perfume.
6. To arrange for one's personal adornment and decoration.
7. To give away 'Eid Charity (Zaka-ul-Fitr) before departure for the Eid ground.
8. To eat something sweet before going for the 'Eid Prayer.
9. To reach the 'Eid ground as early as possible.
10.To walk to the 'Eid ground by one way and return by the other; however, there is no harm if one rides back home.
11. To pronounce the following Takbir on the way in a low voice.

Allah-u Akbar, Allah-u Akbar
Allah is greatest Allah is greatest
La-Ilaha ill-Allah
There is no God but Allah
Wa-Allah-u Akbar, Allah-u Akbar
and Allah is greatest Allah is greatest
wa-lillah-il-hamd
and all praise is for Allah.


Regulation Concerning the Eid Sermon
1. The 'Eid Sermon is Sunnat in nature, but listening to it is wajib (obligatory) for the audience.

2. The sermon should be delivered after the prayer, Hadrat Abu Sa'id says; “The holy Prophet (Pbuh) would first of all offer the Fitr or Adha Prayer; then he would stand up facing the people who kept on sitting in their rows and he would instruct them in religion. Then if he had to send out an army or had to give a special command to the people, he would do so. After this he would return home”. (Bukahri, Muslim)

”I accompanied the Holy Prophet (e) to the 'Eid ground. He led the prayer and then gave the sermon. Then he approached the gathering of the women and gave them religious instructions and urged them to practise charity.” (Bukhari)

The days when it is forbidden to fast
There are five days during the year on which it is forbidden to fast. These five days are: The two days of Eid and the three days of Tashreek, viz. 11th, 12th and 13th Zil-Hajj. (The 3 days following Eid-ul-Adhaa) fasting on these days is not valid.

Fasting in the Month of Shawwal
Allah ta'la says in the Qur'an : “Say (O Muhammad): 'If you (really) love Allah then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [al-Qur'an, 3:31]

This is a beautiful verse, as it tests how true one's love of Allah is. They explained that if one loves Allah, then he must show that in his/her following of the Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh).

One of the ways to manifest our loving of Allah, by following the Prophet, is to do those acts that he, advised his Companions, and the Ummah in general, to do. A sunnah which is certainly relevant to us in these days is his practice to fast six days in the month of Shawwal.

Abu Ayyub al-Ansari narrated: Allah's Messenger (Pbuh) said: “He who fasts Ramadan, and six of Shawwal, it will be (in terms of rewards) as if the fasted a whole year.” [Reported by Muslim, at-Tirmidhi, Abu Daawood, Ahmad, Ibn Maajah]

In commenting on the above mentioned hadith, As-San'ani said in Subul us-Salaam: “If the thirty days of Ramadan fasting are assimilated with the six days of fasting in Shawwal, it altogether makes 36 days. According to Shariah, each virtue is rewarded ten times. Therefore, if we multiply 36 with 10, it makes 360, a number which equals the days of a year. Some scholars are of the opinion that these six days of fasting in Shawwal must be completed in a continuous order right after the end of Ramadan. Some believe that is enough to merely complete six days of fasting in Shawwal (in any order, either Successive or with intervals), an opinion which is deemed to be correct.”

If it is easier for one to fast on weekends, then in that case one would still be following another sunnah at the same time: Umm Salama, radhiallaahu 'anhaa, narrated: Allaah's Messenger used to fast mostly on Saturday and Sunday, and he used to say: “They are the festival days for the mushrikeen, and I like to act contrary to them.” [an-Nasaa'ee, Ibn Khuzaymah, who graded it saheeh, and Ibn Hajar agreed]. But, again, this fast is not obligatory, rather only recommended. There is reward for whoever does it, and no blame upon anyone who leaves it.