Eid-ul-Adha

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Al-Adha Day: A Model for Sharing and Caring

By Wael Shihab

`Eid Al-Adha has unique spiritual, devotional, educational, and social meanings. It implants in the Muslim's heart the spirit of sharing and caring. It has special rituals, ethics, and values that could, if properly observed, change a Muslim's affairs to the better.


On the day of `Eid, a Muslim is recommended by the Sunnah to have a shower before going to the `Eid Prayer and wear the best of his or her clothes. This reflects Islam's care for cleanliness and beauty. A Muslim should be careful regarding his or her appearance, dress, and personal hygiene.

In the early morning of the `Eid day, a Muslim goes out to pray `Eid with his or her fellow brothers and sisters. Every member of the community should share the happiness and attend the gathering of the `Eid. Kids, women and men, young and elderly, should go out for the `Eid Prayer. It is well-known that even women in their menses are allowed to go out and watch the `Eid Prayer and celebration in the open areas (al-musala) to share the community this blessed time. This implants in the Muslim's heart the sense of brotherhood, unity, and togetherness.

(http://www.islamonline.net/English/Eid_AlAdha/1430/share_care/02.shtml">)

First 10 days of the Month of DhulHijjah - Nov. 18th.09

According to the Prophet, sal Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam, who said,

"There is no day more honorable in Allah's sight and no acts more beloved therein to Allah than those in these ten days (of Dhul-Hijjah)"

In these first 10 days of the Month of DhulHijjah we find:

...the 9th day is the day of Arafah,
...and the 10th day is Eid.

Even if you are not traveling for Hajj, you can still put in extra effort to do more good deeds.

What sort of extra good deeds can you do?
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1. Fasting these 10 days

2. Giving more charity during these 10 days

3. Say the "Eid" Takbeers loudly wherever you go. (Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar. Laa ilaaha illa Allah. Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar. Walillaahil hamd.)

4. Try to pray more prayers in the Masjid

5. Increase ties of kinship (visit family, say kind words to them, etc.)

6. Perform more voluntary prayers at home

7. Read more Quran, contemplating the meanings

8. Do more Dhikr

9. Ask for forgiveness more frequently


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The wisdom behind delaying the answer for a supplication

It is puzzling your insistence on asking for your desires and whenever they were delayed your insistence increases without thinking that your are not granted what you ask for because of:

1. Your benefit (for what you have asked could be a harm to you in a way)

2. Your sins (for the sinner's prayers are not answered).

If it was the second reason, you will have to clear the path of answering from the stains of sins.

If it was the first reason then look at what you ask for..is it to strengthen your religion, or just a plain earthly desire?

~ If it was only an earthly desire, then know that it is the kindness and the mercy of Allah that delayed it for you, and by your insistence, you are like a child that asks for what harms him and he is denied that for his own good.

~ And if you think that what you asked for is for the benefit of your religion then your benefit could be in delaying it, or the well-being of your faith is by the nonexistence of it.

In other words, the planning of the Truth the Almighty (Allah) is better for you than your own planning, and He could deprive you from what you ask to test your patience.

So let Him see from you a determined patience and you will soon see from Him what will give you joy.

And when you have cleaned the paths of answering (of supplication) from the stains of sin and was patient about what He has chosen for you, then everything that happens to you is better for you whether you were given or deprived of what you have requested.

[Imaam Ibn al-Jawzee (rh) ]


(http://www.lutonmuslims.co.uk/)

Ghibtah

...is a type of envy/jealousy – but free from malice.

There is the famous hadith about Ghibtah,

عن ابن عمر رضى الله عنهما قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : (لا حسد إلا في اثنتين : رجل آتاه الله القرآن فهو يتلوه آناء الليل وآناء النهار ورجل آتاه الله مالاً فهو ينفقه آناء الليل وآناء النهار). (البخاري ومسلم)

Ibn 'Umar radhiyAllahu ‘anhuma reported that the Prophet sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said,

"Envy is allowed in two cases, in case of a man whom Allah has given the Qur'aan and who recites it throughout night and day; and a man on whom Allah has bestowed wealth who gives it away throughout night and day."
[Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim]


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Scholars have emphasised the distinction between "Ghibtah" and "Hasad".

Al-Ghibtah means to have the desire to achieve the good qualities that others have. Al-Ghibtah is a positive behavior which motivates you to do good, as good as other people do.

For example, when you see a knowledgeable person, you admire and wish to be knowledgeable like him; when you see someone who do a lot of ibadah, you wish to do the same; when you see a rich person who pays charity, you admire him and wish to be like him.

So you admire these people for their good actions and hence you wish to be like them.

Al-Ghibtah, then, is actually good and desirable. It influences our attitude and behavior in a positive way.

Al-Hasad, on the other hand, means 'envy'. It is a negative behavior which is prohibited and condemned in Islam. The Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wasallam, said that al-Hasad demolishes the rewards.

It is envy and jealousy that occurs when you see someone who is given some privileges that you do not have.

It is Allah who gives His Bounty to anyone He choses. So we should not feel any objection to Allah's plan.

That is why al-Hasad is considered a very bad behavior and a major sin.

(Source: http://fortyhadith.iiu.edu.my/hadith25.htm)

Prophet Muhammad's (p.b.u.h) love for his people

Once our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was sitting with some of his companion and suddenly he (p.b.u.h) said, "Alas! I wish I could meet my brothers."


Abu Bakr and Umar, who were around him said, "Are we not your brothers? We believe in you and we migrated with you."

Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) replied, "You are my companions. You accepted Islam and migrated with me but "Alas I wish I could meet my brothers...!"

Again they asked the same question, Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) replied the same answer. Then they asked "O, Prophet who are those people?"

Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) replied, "My brothers are those who are during the Akhir uz Zaman (end of time). They will believe in me although they have not seen me."

This shows a glimpse of our Prophet Muhammad's (p.b.u.h) love for us.

(May the blessings of Allah S.W.T be upon him, his family and his companions)