Writes Dr. Khalid bin Abdurahman Al Shaya
The Secretary General Assistant of Global Commission for Introducing the Messenger (PBUH)
On a joyful day in the city of the Prophet (p.b.u.h) ……
On the morning of a happy Eid……
The house of the Prophet witnessed the scenes of the celebration of Eid under the supervision of the best human beings: Muhammad (p.b.u.h) .
Everyone expresses his joy of Eid and his all wishes to be able to join the scene with the Noble Prophet (p.b.u.h) , because they loved and missed him, and in honor to Him.
Concerning the house of the Prophet, Narrates Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her): The Messenger (p.b.u.h) of God came to my residence while two female singers were singing the songs of Bu’ath.
The Noble Prophet (p.b.u.h) lay down and turned his face to the other side. Meanwhile Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) entered and [seeing the singers] rebuked me thus: Satanic musical instruments in the presence of the Noble Prophet (p.b.u.h)? On hearing this Allah's Messenger (p.b.u.h) turned towards him and said: Let them [sing and rejoice]. When Abu Bakr was engaged in some other business, I signaled to the girls [to go out] and they left.
Moreover, there was another example of celebration of the Eid near the honorable room of the Prophet (p.b.u.h), Our Mother Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) tell us about it in the context of her previous narration. She narrated: “It was the Day of Eid, and the Abyssinians were playing with shields and spears: so either I requested the Prophet (p.b.u.h) or he asked me: ‘Would you like to see the display?’ I replied in the affirmative.
Then the Prophet (p.b.u.h) let me stand behind him and my cheek was on his cheek and he was saying: "Carry on! O Bani Arfida (a name given to the Abyssinians) ,"till I got tired. The Prophet (p.b.u.h) asked me: "Are you satisfied (Is that sufficient for you)?" I replied in the affirmative and he told me to leave. (Al-Bukhaari and Muslim in the Chapter of the Tow Festivals (Eidayn) and the words are those of Al-Bukhaari).
In another place next to the room of the Prophet (p.b.u.h) there was another joyful celebration of Eid performed by some children and they were singing melodious Nasheeds (verses), praising the Prophet (p.b.u.h).
If we would like to know some of such Nasheeds and their words, they were in their language and even the Prophet (p.b.u.h) asked about their meanings. It was narrated in Al-Musnad and Saheeh Ibn Hibbaan that Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “The Abyssinians used to come before the Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h), dancing and speaking words which he did not understand. Then the Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h) asked: “What are they saying?” They said that they were saying: “Muhammad is a righteous slave (of Allah).”
Scholars deduced the following rulings from the above mentioned Hadiths:
Eid in Islam is not an individual celebration; rather it is collective. Thus all individuals of the Muslim nation shall share happiness of this occasion. Islam came to ensure happiness for all Muslims – from our little children to our relatives and neighbors. This can be clearly manifested by the Sunnah (tradition) of the Prophet (p.b.u.h), when he ensured food, which is considered as one of the essential elements of happiness, for all members of the Muslim society at the morning of “Eed Al-Fitr and ‘Eed Al-Adh-ha. As a matter of fact, no other system in the world as a whole can ensure that amount of food for all people and the integration of the poor as the Islamic Sharia has done.
Therefore, noble and kind Muslims realize that satisfying the needs of people and alleviating poverty are things that accompany every joyful occasion. Thus, Eid includes the meanings of happiness, mercy and kind and sincere affection. Moreover the history continues to record the attitudes of noble Muslims whose happiness could not be complete except by satisfying the needs of the poor and the needy around them. They give them food, clothes and a great amount of money.
Eid - with its great scenes and signs of happiness – is a golden opportunity to call and invite non-Muslims to Islam and present to them the true nature of Islam through compliments and the Islamic courteous behavior, which Allah the Almighty ordered us to adopt in His saying (which means):
“Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes – from being righteous towards them and acting justly towards them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.” [Quran 60: 8]
Eid in Islam is a great integrated ritual. It satisfies both: the spiritual and the physical needs. Eid crowns the great and significant rituals of worship that Allah the Almighty has enjoined in the month of Ramadan and in the months of Haji. These are the needs of the soul: Allah the Almighty Says (what means):
“In the Bounty of Allah and His Mercy – in that let them rejoice.” [Quran 10: 58]
Physical needs and psychological desires that seek entertainment, amusement and play are also satisfied on the occasion of Eid in Islam. Therefore, Islam forbade observing fast on the days of Eid as the happiness of the one who witnesses Eid will not be complete unless he could eat or drink. What can refer to achieve such aims is what Anas narrated: “The people during Jaahiliyyah used to have two days in the year when they would amuse themselves. When the Messenger of Allah came to Medina he said: ‘Allah has given you instead of them two days that are better than them: the Day of Al-Adh-ha and the Day of Al-Fitr.’” (Abu Daawood and An-Nasaa’i)
Ibn Jareer, in relating the events of the 2nd year A.H. Said: “In that year, the Prophet performed the Eid prayer and went out along with people to the place of the prayer. It was the first Eid prayer that he performed.”
In this way, the Muslim nation became self-sufficient because of its integrated Sharia (Islamic legislation) and its complete blessings. Allah the Almighty says (what means):
“And do not follow their inclinations away from what has come to you of the truth. To teach each of you We prescribed a law and a method.” [Quran 5: 48]
Actually, all days of the life of the Prophet (p.b.u.h) were like the days of Eid – full of happiness and joy for all those who dealt and talked with the Prophet (p.b.u.h) and followed the guidance of his religion. Therefore, the meetings of the Prophet (p.b.u.h) were full with people of different origins and ages, delegations, groups, leaders, women who came to seek knowledge, the old, the young and children. All those people came to share the blessing of the Prophet (p.b.u.h). This gift will be available for all people to come till the Day of Judgment. Those who will benefit greatly from this blessing are only those who adhere very strictly to the footsteps and the way of the Prophet (p.b.u.h). Allah the Almighty Says (what means):
“Certainly did Allah confer (great) favor upon the believers when He sent among them a Messenger from themselves, reciting to them His verses and purifying them an teaching them the Book and wisdom, although they had been before in manifest error.” [Quran 3: 164]
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