Dear Brothers and Sisters,
As'Salamu'Alaikum
Eid-ul-Fitr is an occasion of celebration, joy, gathering, and gratitude to Allah for his countless blessings. The MCCGP community has cherished memories of the past days of Eid. However, we face the prospect of celebrating Eid at homes that is unlike any other in its difficulty and challenge. Nonetheless, we must find a way to to have a joyous and meaningful Eid.
Please review the guidance below from our Imam Abdul Aziz for celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr at home.
As'Salamu'Alaikum
Eid-ul-Fitr is an occasion of celebration, joy, gathering, and gratitude to Allah for his countless blessings. The MCCGP community has cherished memories of the past days of Eid. However, we face the prospect of celebrating Eid at homes that is unlike any other in its difficulty and challenge. Nonetheless, we must find a way to to have a joyous and meaningful Eid.
Please review the guidance below from our Imam Abdul Aziz for celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr at home.
Guidance for Eid-ul-Fitr 1441
Imam Abdul Aziz Suraqah
All praise belongs to Allah, and may prayers and peace be upon our master Muhammad, and upon his Family and Companions entirely.
The Eid prayer is one of the symbols of Islam. Allah says, “And whosoever reveres the symbols of Allah, indeed that is from the piety of the hearts.” (22:32).
Due to the exceptional circumstances we are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing social distancing measures in place, there will be no Eid al-Fitr prayer offered this year at MCCGP. Instead, we ask the community to offer the Eid prayer at home, either together with family members or individually.
The rulings on offering the Eid prayer vary among qualified scholars historically, with some who deem it a community obligation, some who deem it an individual obligation, and others who consider it a non-obligatory, yet highly stressed Sunna. According to the Maliki, Shafi’i and Hanbali Schools of Sunni Islamic law, it is permissible, even in regular circumstances, for the one who misses the Eid prayer at the mosque or musalla to perform it at home. Due to the current circumstances, we advise the community to adopt this position and offer the Eid prayer at home with their families.
There is a degree of lenience when performing the Eid prayer that is not found with Jumu’a prayer. While the khutba is a condition of validity for Jumu’a, it is a recommendation (not mandatory) for both Eids. This is supported by the narration of ‘Abdullah b. al-Sa’ib who said, “I attended the Eid with Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) and he said, ‘We are going to deliver a sermon, so whoever wants to sit for the sermon should sit, and whoever wants to leave should leave.’” Therefore, neither the khutba nor listening to it is a requirement of the Eid prayer.
And Allah knows best.
OVERVIEW OF THE EID PRAYER
SUNNAS OF EID
Despite the extraordinary circumstances we find ourselves in and our inability to offer the Eid prayer as a community in the mosque, we are still able to enliven the day of Eid with our families and follow the recommended Sunna practices of Eid. These include:
—Abdul Aziz Suraqah
The Eid prayer is one of the symbols of Islam. Allah says, “And whosoever reveres the symbols of Allah, indeed that is from the piety of the hearts.” (22:32).
Due to the exceptional circumstances we are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing social distancing measures in place, there will be no Eid al-Fitr prayer offered this year at MCCGP. Instead, we ask the community to offer the Eid prayer at home, either together with family members or individually.
The rulings on offering the Eid prayer vary among qualified scholars historically, with some who deem it a community obligation, some who deem it an individual obligation, and others who consider it a non-obligatory, yet highly stressed Sunna. According to the Maliki, Shafi’i and Hanbali Schools of Sunni Islamic law, it is permissible, even in regular circumstances, for the one who misses the Eid prayer at the mosque or musalla to perform it at home. Due to the current circumstances, we advise the community to adopt this position and offer the Eid prayer at home with their families.
There is a degree of lenience when performing the Eid prayer that is not found with Jumu’a prayer. While the khutba is a condition of validity for Jumu’a, it is a recommendation (not mandatory) for both Eids. This is supported by the narration of ‘Abdullah b. al-Sa’ib who said, “I attended the Eid with Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) and he said, ‘We are going to deliver a sermon, so whoever wants to sit for the sermon should sit, and whoever wants to leave should leave.’” Therefore, neither the khutba nor listening to it is a requirement of the Eid prayer.
And Allah knows best.
OVERVIEW OF THE EID PRAYER
- The Eid prayer consists of two units (rak’as) prayed after the Duha’ time but before Zuhr.
- There neither Azan nor Iqama called.
- In the first rak’a, one does six takbirs (saying Allahu Akbar) after the opening takbir, making seven takbirs in total. Then one recites Sura al-Fatiha and another sura out loud (it is a Sunna to recite Sura al-A’la (chapter 87) after Sura al-Fatiha in the first rak’a).
- In the second rak’a, one does five takbirs after the opening takbir, making six takbirs in total. Then one recites Sura al-Fatiha and another sura out loud (it is a Sunna to recite Sura al-Ghashiya (chapter 88) after Sura al-Fatiha in the second rak’a).
- The takbirs should be done consecutively. If one is leading others in the prayer, he should leave just enough time between them for the followers to repeat it.
SUNNAS OF EID
Despite the extraordinary circumstances we find ourselves in and our inability to offer the Eid prayer as a community in the mosque, we are still able to enliven the day of Eid with our families and follow the recommended Sunna practices of Eid. These include:
- To eat something sweet, like dates, before the Eid prayer.
- To perform the purificatory bath (ghusl) before the Eid prayer.
- To wear scented perfume (women do not wear strong scented perfume outside of their homes; however, if a woman is praying at home with her immediate family and is not around unrelated males, she may wear it).
- To wear the best of one’s clothes.
- To make one’s joy and happiness apparent, thanking Allah for one’s blessings.
- To give charity (Zakat al-Fitr should have been paid before the Eid prayer is offered).
- To utter the takbirs before the Eid prayer.
—Abdul Aziz Suraqah
Live Eid Address to the Community
Sunday May 24, 2020 at 10:30 AM
Imam Abdul Aziz Suraqah
MCCGP YouTube Channel
Eid is an occasion of glorifying Allah, praying for the acceptance of our deeds, and enjoying the blessings of Allah. It is a day to spend time with family and loved ones. The restrictions of social distancing have limited our ability to congregate and spend time together as a community. However, they do not prevent us from fulfilling the rituals and traditions of Eid.
We pray that Allah lifts this calamity from us and rid us of its harmful effects, heal the sick, ease the pain and suffering, provide comfort to all who are struck by it, directly or indirectly and enable us to gather once again at MCCGP. Ameen.
Wa'Salamu'Alaikum and Eid Mubarak!
We pray that Allah lifts this calamity from us and rid us of its harmful effects, heal the sick, ease the pain and suffering, provide comfort to all who are struck by it, directly or indirectly and enable us to gather once again at MCCGP. Ameen.
Wa'Salamu'Alaikum and Eid Mubarak!