Zakatul Fitr Anas, a companion of Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon Him), reported that when the Prophet migrated from Makkah to Madinah, the people of Madinah used to have two festivals.
On those two days, they held carnivals and festivities.
The Prophet asked the Ansaar (the Muslims of Madinah) about it. They said that before the advent of Islam, they used to have carnivals on two days.
The Prophet told them, ‘Instead of those two days, Allah has appointed two other days which are better – the days of Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha (Hadith).”
Eid Al Fitr is celebrated on the first day of ‘Shawwal,’ at the completion of Ramadan. This is the tenth month in the Islamic Calendar.
Eid is a very joyous day; it is a true ’Thanksgiving Day’ for the believing men and women. On this day, Muslims show their real joy for the health, strength and the opportunities of life, which Allah has given to them to fulfil their obligation of fasting and other good deeds during the blessed month of Ramadan.
The Schedule
The following is the schedule for Eid Al Fitr:
Wake up early; after the preliminary chores, take a bath, put on fresh clothes, have breakfast with family before leaving for prayers.
Pay Zakat Al Fitr before Salaat Al Eid Prayers; offer Salaat Al Eid at the Mosque and in congregation; use two separate routes to and from the place of worship.
The following is the schedule for Eid Al Adha:
Wake up early; after the preliminary chores, take a bath, put on fresh clothes, perform Salaat of perform sacrifice (if you are sacrificing) and have breakfast with family before leaving for prayers.
Recite the following Takbir on the way to Salaat and until the beginning of Salaat-al-Eid:
Allaho Akbar, Allaho Akbar. La ila ha
Ill lall ah, Allaho Akbar, Allaho Akbar
Wa lilahill hamd
Source: New Zealand Muslim Sports Monthly Newsletter
Photo :
Eid Al Fitr in Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton (2011)
Abdullah Drury (left) with National MP David Bennett at Eid Al Fitr celebrations held last year
