The Prophet of Mercy Website

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).

         Narrates Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her): The Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h‎) was present among us when suddenly we heard children creating noise. The Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h‎) stood up. [We found out] that a black slave woman was dancing encircled by children. The Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h‎) [called me] saying:  Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), come and watch. I came [to him] placed my chin over the Prophet’s shoulders and watched through the space between his shoulders and head. The Noble Prophet (p.b.u.h‎) asked many times:  Have you not got enough of it?  In order to know how he cares for me I continued replying in the negative. Meanwhile, Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) came and the gathering disbursed [seeing him]. At this the Noble Prophet commented:  I see that the devils from among the Jinn and the humans have fled at Umar arrival. Then she said: ‘I went back.’”(Al-Tirmithi)     

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:

        ** It is permissible to be generous to your dependants during the days of Eid in a manner that pleases them and give them rest. In a case a person does not like to have rest or amusement due to his old age, his status and prestige - although that may really benefit him - others, especially his family and children and those who are still young love amusement, so he should give them the chance to satisfy these natural desires in accordance with the rules and limits of the Sharia (Islamic legislation).

       ** It also indicates that showing happiness during the days of Eid is among the main principles and rituals of our religion. That is why the Prophet (p.b.u.h‎) when he saw the two little girls singing the songs, he did not stop them, rather he approved it. Moreover, when the Prophet (p.b.u.h‎) saw that Abu Bakr was trying to stop them, he told him: “let them [sing and rejoice]..” And in another narration he said: “O Abu Bakr! There is a festival for every nation and this is our festival”, and in the narration, reported in Al-Musnad, the Prophet said: “Let the Jew know that our religion is full of ease and that I was sent with a tolerant religion of true monotheism.”

      ** It also indicates that one should treat his wife gently and seek closeness to her because women have a natural love for kind feelings and gentle emotions. Such intimacy can be attained by satisfying her natural desires and fulfilling her usual needs as long as they are lawful. In fact, the Prophet (p.b.u.h) gave us the best example in this regard. His houses were full with kindness and with gentleness toward the Mothers of the Believers. The affectionate scene, in which the Mother of the Believers [Aisha] said: “My check was on his check” and the harmonious emotions and spiritual contact that this includes, clearly proves that Eid in a chance to heal any rift that may afflict the beautiful picture of the marital life.

       ** In fact, what the Prophet (p.b.u.h) did with Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), in spite of his noble status and great burdens, is a precious lesson for parents, brothers and husbands. Hence Aisha used to say: “You should understand the fact that young girls like to have fun.” Therefore, you should understand our desires for such things until we have enough of them. After investigating the matter, it was concluded that denying children and wives their share of amusement and entertainment have adverse effects on their psychological and social lives. Engaging in play and entertainment on Eid should not make one forget the religious and moral teachings to which he has to adhere strictly. Entertainment and amusement do not justify doing forbidden actions, neglecting duties and causing harm to people. Aisha pointed to this when she said: “Some Abyssinians were playing with spears and the Messenger of Allah screened me (with his cloak) so that I could watch them.” And her description of the two still young girls and that they were not singers and that they were singing a Nasheed, that is religiously permissible and suits the occasion of Eid.

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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