To help us still perform our duties to Allah, our Senior Imam, Dr Mohamed Ali Ahdash, has compiled the following information to help you in celebrating Eid at home starting with the Eid prayer.
Eid prayer is a highly confirmed Sunna, according to the majority of scholars. It can be performed without Eid Khutba at home.
In normal circumstances, if one cannot attend Eid prayers and the khutba, it is recommended to perform Eid prayer with your family or alone before dhuhr prayer.
Eid prayer is conventionally held in an outdoor musalla (open area designed for prayer) or mosques. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, we cannot perform it in either place; therefore, it is highly recommended to perform Eid prayer at home without the Eid Khutba. Your family can even make Eid prayer in the back garden if you have one and it is safe to do so.
There are no nafl ( recommended) prayers offered before or after the Eid prayer. As reported by Ibn’ Abbas : ‘The Prophet went out to the place of prayer on the Day of Eid Al-Fitr and prayed two raka’ah of Eid prayer, not praying (nafl) before or after them.’ (Bukhari)
How to pray Eid prayer
The `Eid prayer consists of two rak`as.
One must first have the niyyah (intention) to perform two raka’ah for Eid Al-Fitr. This intention must be present in the heart. No need to utter it.
In addition to the opening “Allahu Akbar”, one says the supplication (Sanaa’ – subhaanakallahumma… till the end). This is followed by “Allahu Akbar” six times in the first rak’a (pause after every Takbir). Then begin to recite Surah Al-Fatiha along with any other surah, preferably being Surah Al-A’la (Qur’an Chapter 87) .
Then, “Allah Akbar” five times in the second rak`a, not counting the initial “Allahu Akbar” when rising from prostration. Read Surah Al-Fatihah, followed by any surah, preferably Surah Al-Ghashiya (Qur’an Chapter 88).
Zakat-al-Fitr
You have to pay your Zakat Al-Fitr (£5 per person in the household) before you pray your Eid prayer. Zakat Al-Fitr is compulsory for all members of your household, including children and the elderly.
According to many scholars (Hanafi and Shafi’i) it can be paid from the first day of Ramadan. Remember that the deadline for the payment for Zakat Al-Fitr is before you pray your Eid prayer. The performance of Eid prayer starts after 20 minutes of sunrise. We advise strongly to pay it as soon as possible, especially in these current circumstances (Coronavirus). It is
considered sinful not to pay Zakat Al-Fitr if a person is able to do so.
If one misses the payment of Zakat al-Fitr without any good reason, he/she has sinned. However, Zakat al-Fitr is still obligatory, it will still need to be paid. To give your Zakat-al-Fitr online please click here.
Other recommendations:
1. Make du’a on the night of Eid.
Imam Al Shafi’i said it is reported that There are five nights on which du’a is not rejected: the first night of Rajab, the fifteenth night of Sha’ban, Thursday night, the night before Eid al-Fitr and the night before Eid al-Adha.
2. Make Ghusl before Eid prayer – As Muslims, cleanliness is a fundamental part of our religion.
3. Eating before Eid prayer – For Eid Al-Fitr, it is Sunnah to eat some dates before the prayer, so you do not extend the fast. Fasting, is unlawful on the day of Eid
4. Putting on perfume – Just as our Prophet Muhammad applied perfume on Eid
5. Eid Takbeers should be recited softly.
6. Congratulating each other, reaching out via Phone Calls or Social Media, with a personal touch.
It was narrated by Jubayr ibn Nufayr, that the Sahabah used to greet each other on the day of Eid with: ‘Taqabbal Allaahu Minnaa Wa Minka’,which means ‘May Allah accept (the fast and worship) from us and from you’.
It is highly recommended for everyone to exhibit and display happiness and joy and gratitude for the blessings Allah has bestowed upon us, and so this joy may affect others.
]]>
