Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha, Friday and Fasting Eidu-ul-Fitr commences a day after the last day of fasting in the month of Ramadhaan while ul-Adha appears (in both the current lunar and Islamic year) in October - the latter of which falls immediately after the day of Arafat. Each morning of Eid a distinct prayer is performed the likes of which augment to, not only the untold reward but much expiation of sins. Although, the weekly Jumu’ah prayer contains more blessing than both Eid payers combined so this too must be remembered. Children who have yet to attain the age of puberty are exempt from fasting during any of the Eid prayers (and the month of Ramadhaan) yet care is placed upon the need to educate kids of these tremendous prayers and the reward entailed. Eid-ul-Adha in particular is regarded as the “big” Eid and falls immediately after the day of Arafat, which is the day Islam was perfected as a religion and Allaah’s favour was completed. This is regarded as a festival for eating and drinking as narrated by the authors of Al-Sunan. The day of Arafat is a virtuous one on which to fast because Abu Qataada (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported Arafa “expiates the sins of the preceding year and the coming year” [Sahih Muslim, Volume no.2, The Book of Fasting, Hadith no.2603]. Arafat is also a day of forgiveness of sins and freedom from Hell-Fire. Sahih Muslim also authors: “There is no day on which Allaah frees more of His slaves from Hell-Fire than the day of Arafat.” The day of Arafat marks the time when Prophet Ibrahim (may Allaah bless him) was given a command by Allaah to kill his only son. Ibrahim obeyed Allaah but was sent to a halt before he was about to kill his son and Allaah revealed that his sacrifice had already been fulfilled. Therefore, we sacrifice an animal during this time to commemorate the triumphs and trials of Ibrahim (may Allaah grant him with the highest abode in Jannah). The Messenger (S) had “forbidden the observing of fasting on Fitr and the second [Eid –] the day when you eat the meet of your sacrifices” [Sahih Muslim, Volume no.2, The Book of Fasting, Hadith no.2533]. “It is not proper to fast on two days, Adha and Fitr (at Ramadhaan’s end)” [Sahih Muslim, Volume no.2, The Book of Fasting, Hadith no.2535]. The mention of Prophet’s (S) disapproval of “fasting on two days: Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha” is one which some rebelled against out of mistaking the last day of Ramadhaan for Eid or merely believing fasting should take place on this specified day which is a danger Abu Hanifa alluded to as part of a Scholarly consensus for another Hadith of successive fasting which causes Muslims to believe that the Shawwaal are compulsory fasts as opposed to voluntary ones. [Sahih Al-Bukhaari, Volume no.2, The Book of Prayer Times, Hadith no.288]. Distinguish the last day of Ramadhaan from Eid, or Arafat from Eid and diary your timings from what has been gathered in the moon-sightings hitherto. Abu Huraira (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported the Messenger of Allaah as saying, “None should fast on a Friday, except that he fasts a day before it or a day after it” [Sahih Muslim, Volume no.2, The Book of Fasting, Hadith no.2545]. Since Friday is the most important day of the week, the people may not get used to fasting on this day with an extent of care where voluntary fasting may become an obligatory act in the Muslim society. This implies if a Muslim is not used to consecutive fasting he should abstain from it on Friday. Prophet (S) was reported to have fasted but little on Fridays being the least day he did so of the week. He did not approve of singling out Friday for voluntary fasts yet it is permitted to do so if a loyal Muslim to the Sunnah is accustomed to fasting voluntary generally, especially on explicitly mentioned dates e.g. 13th, 14th, and, 15th of every month which marks the middle of each month. One is that since the flesh of the sacrificed animals were cut on these days, Ayyam-ul-Tashriq was given to the name of the specified three days. These three days may also incidentally coincide with a Friday authenticated in Ahadith Sahih Muslim. The Day of Arafat and Friday are Eids so the coinciding of the two is a good thing. This year it is looking very likely Friday will coincide with Arafat. In this instance, singling out Friday for fasting is permissible for the one who keeps a habit of fasting Arafa yearly, because they intend to fast Arafa and not Friday. If he joins it to a fast on the day before or the day after, in this case, this would be Thursday, (assuming that Eid falls on Saturday), then it is not Makrooh to single out Friday for fasting. This is a safer, less doubtful option for the one who wants to fast on Friday and is not accustomed to fasting optional fasts, despite his intention being to fast Arafa and not Friday. Pilgrims performing Hajj are forbidden to fast on Arafat. An ailing person may be granted a concession or an expiation depending on the nature of his sickness. Omar Ahmad
Posted on: Tue, 30 Sep 2014 20:42:16 +0000