Reflecting on past Eid festivities brings up images of large extended family gatherings. Men, women, and children dressed in their finest, visiting family and friends, exchanging gifts, hugs, handshakes, and good wishes. It’s just smiles and food all around and for those with a sweet tooth, an extra pound or two. It is an absolute moment of pure joy.
Those of us who live away from family learn that family is not just blood family. Sometimes you stay in a different place for so long and the people around you become your family. You would still celebrate Eid with all the fine clothes and its festivities at your local Mosque or you would visit people with such different backgrounds, cultures, and cuisines and get to appreciate diversity.
Our new normal means you have to stay in your house with your immediate family or maybe even alone and we will mention the Sunnahs you should follow to celebrate this beautiful day.
1. Worship on the night that precedes Eid.
On the night that precedes Eid ul Fitr, you may engage in any form of worship. It could be Salah, Dhikr, Dua, Reading Quran etc. The Prophet (PBUH) called this night “ Laylatul Jaaizah (the night of prize giving or the night of reward)! The Prophet (PBUH) would not sleep on the night before Eid. The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Whoever stands up in worship in the nights preceding the two Eids expecting rewards from his Lord, his heart will not die when the other hearts will die”. ( Ibn Majah )
2. After praying Fajr on the day of Eid, do Ghusl.
Some people would do ghusl before Fajr. It is ok to do so but it is preferred if you do it after Fajr. Ibn Abbas narrated that The Prophet (PBUH) used to have a bath on the day of Eid ul Fitr. (Ibn Majah )
3. Eat some dates before praying the Eid prayer.
The Sunnah is for us to eat some dates before praying the Eid prayer. The Prophet (PBUH) did not set out on the day of Eid until he had eaten an odd number of dates. (Bukhari ) It is totally haram to fast on the day of Eid.
4. Put on nice clothes and wear perfume.
We should put on good clothes and men would wear perfume but this year both men and women can wear perfume because the Eid prayer is done at home. The Prophet (PBUH) used to wear perfume on Eid.
5. Do the Takbirat of Salat al-Eid.
Do the Takbirat of Salat al-Eid which you should have started to do after Salat al-Maghrib the day before Eid. We can start praying Salat al-Eid 15 minutes after Sunrise until 10 minutes before Dhuhr prayer. There is a big window for us to pray the Eid Salat. It consists of 2 rakats. After takbirat al Ihram, we say 6 more takbirahs or 7 more according to some narrations but we raise our hands with every takbirat. We proceed as usual by saying the Dua of Istiftah and we read Surat Al Fatiha with Surat Qaf in the first rakat and Surat Al Fatiha with Surat Al Qamar in the second rakat. We may also pray Surat Al Aala in the first and Surat Al Ghashiya in the second rakat. If we don’t know these Surahs by heart, we can recite any Surah. After reading the Surahs, we continue with the usual movements of Salah and after getting up from the second sajdah to continue with the second rakat, we say takbirat al intiqal, we make 5 more takbirats and then continue the Salah as usual. We don’t do any khutbah at home. After we finish the Salat, we hug our family and we say the dua “taqabbal Allah mina wa minkum” which means May Allah (SWT) accept the fast and worship from us and from you.
Technology has allowed us to see and talk to family even if they are very far away and the options here are so much. With a click, you can buy stuff and send it to loved ones. You may live in an area where restrictions are lifted but social distancing dictates that you would have to refine your other senses to express how you feel. The smiles may be covered with a mask but you can still express how you feel with your eyes. It is time to unleash our creativity. You can start by making hearts with your fingers. Just remember to make it the best Eid ever because we may or may not ever experience an Eid like this one.
From our Halal Travels family to all the Muslims all over the world, we wish you a very happy Eid Mubarak.
