EID SALAAT

Rasulullah Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam said: "The heart of the person who remains awake in Ibadah during the night of Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adhaa will not die on the Day when hearts will be dead, i.e. the Day of Qiyaamah."
(TIBRANI)

The nights of both Eids, i.e. the nights preceding the Days of Eid, are auspicious occasions which should be observed with reverence and worship.

Rasulullah Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam said that these nights are great occasions of Ibadah and of gaining the proximity and special Mercy of Almighty Allah Azza Wajjal. These holy nights, should therefore not be allowed to pass by in idleness. Full advantage should be taken of these golden opportunities by offering obedience and Ibadah unto Rabbul Ala'meen to the best of our abilities.

Istighfaar - seeking forgiveness for sins, Tilaawat (reciting the Quran), Nafl Salaat, Durood, etc. should be profusely offered on these holy nights.

Among the rewards which will be obtained as a result of observing the sanctity of these glorious Eid Nights, the greatest reward is the tiding conveyed to us by Rasulullah Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam in the abovementioned Hadith, viz., "the heart will not be smitten with terror and fear on the Day of Qiyamah when the upheavals of that Day will be so fearsome that men will appear to be intoxicated."

SUNNAHS OF EID

To rise as early as possible (in fact much of this night should be spent in Ibaadat).
To make Ghusl.
To brush your teeth or to use the Miswaak.
To apply Itr (Halaal, non-alcoholic perfume).
To wear one's best clothes, ensuring that it conforms with Shariáh (sunnah dress).
To eat something sweet (such as dates) before departing for Eid Salaat.
To get to the 'Eid Gah' as early as possible.
To discharge 'Sadaqatul Fitr' before the performance of Salatul Eid.
To pay the $5.00 'Sadaqatul Fitr' for each and every member of the family
To perform the Eid Salaat.

To choose a separate route when returning from the Eid Gah.
To walk to the Eid Gah. However, there is no harm in using any means of
conveyance if the Eid Gah is a distance away.

To recite the Takbeer while walking or driving to the Eid Gah.

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Laa ilaaha illallah, wallahu Akbar.
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar wa lillahi-l hamd.


SOME RULES REGARDING EID SALAAT

A person who joins the Eid Salaat after the Imam has already recited the Eid Takbeers should recite the Takbeers immediately upon entering the Salaat.

However, If any latecomer/s enters the Salaat when the Imam is about to go into Ruku and the latecomers fear that they will not he able to join the Imaam in the Ruku if they stand and recite the Takbeers, they should instead recite the Takbeers in the Ruku, and forgo the Tasbeeh of the Ruku. But, while reciting the Takbeers in the Ruku hands should not be raised as is done when reciting the Takbeer when in Qiyaam (the standing posture of Salaat). One can avoid all this by being on time.

If the Imaam emerges from the Ruku and the latecomers has not yet completed the recitation of the Takbeers which they had missed then they should leave off the balance of the Takbeers and join the Imam in emerging from the Ruku. In this case the balance of the Takbeers which the latecomer/s could not complete are waived (Maaf).

If someone missed a Rakaat of the Eid Salaat they should fulfil it as follows:
After the Imam terminates the Salaat with the Salaams any latecomer (the one who missed the Rakaat) should rise and perform one Rakaat on his own, reciting Qiraat, the Takbeers should be recited. The rest of the Rakaat is then completed as usual.

EID SALAAT FORMULA

The Eid Salaat (Eid-ul-Fitr) is performed on the 1st day of Shawaal. It consists of two Rakaats and two Khutbah's, and is very much like the Jummu'ah Salaat with a few variations. During Jumah Salaat the Khutbah precedes the two Rakaats and on Eid day it is in reverse. First comes the two Rakaats of prayer and then the two Khutbahs. On the best authority of the Hanafi Imams (R.A.), there are six additional Takbeers (Allah-u-Akbar) for the Eid Salaats. 3 Takbeers in the first Rakaat and 3 Takbeers in the second Rakaat.

FIRST RAKAAT

After everybody has made 'Niyyat' the Imam recites the 'Takbeer-E-Tahreema', (Allah-u-Akbar) and starts the Eid Salaat. Everybody raise their hands to their earlobes and folds them under their navel. Then the Imam recites three Takbeers one after the other with brief intervals. (Allah-u-Akbar). We raise our hands and drop them to our sides after the 1st and 2nd Takbeers and after the 3rd Takbeer we place our hands below our navel. The Imam then recites the Surah Fatiha and follows it with any passage from the Quraan. We then proceed into Rukoo and Sujood and return for the second Rakaat.

SECOND RAKAAT

The Imam recites Surah Al-Fatiha and a passage from the Quraan and is now ready for the Rukoo. At this stage just before going into the Rukoo, he recites the remaining 3 Takbeers with brief intervals. We drop our hands each time to our sides. When the Imam recites the 4th Takbeer, we go into Rukoo and then into Sujood. After the Thashahhud and Salaam, remain seated and wait for the Imaam to deliver the Khutbahs.

THE KHUTBAH FORMULA

After the two Raka'ats, the Imam rises to deliver his Khutbah. It is Sunnah for the Imam to start his first Khutbah with 9 Takbeers and the second with 7 Takbeers. He reminds the Muslims of their duties towards Almighty Allah Jallah Wa'ala, towards themselves and their fellow - men. Eid is a day of happiness and joy. This cannot be fully appreciated if animosity, hatred, old grudges and bygones are left to remain in our hearts. May Almighty Allah Azza Wajjal in His Infinite Mercy and Bounty bless the Muslim Ummah on this most wonderful and auspicious occasion.

The congregational prayer of Eid is an opportunity for Muslims to express feelings of thanksgiving and a wonderful sense of Muhabbat and unity. If the Glorious month of Ramadan has meant anything to us we should now be in a better position to create more healthy and stable communities united in our beliefs and inspirations and working together towards common goals.

"Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great.
There is no god but Allah. Allah is Most Great.
Allah is Most Great and to Allah belongs all praise and thanks."

Let our repetition of these words remind us that it is Almighty Allah Subhanahu Wata'ala Alone whom we worship, to Whom we give thanks for His bounties and blessings, and to Whom we direct our cries for help.