The Month of Ramadaan is coming to an end and the transition from Ramadan to Eid and thereafter should be a path that brings us closer to our Creator and a path that treads the Sunnah i.e. The way of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) .
After a month of sacrifice, Allah Ta'ala takes it upon Himself to reward His faithful servants. Allah Ta'ala is the Most Generous and Most Benevolent. Indeed Allah Ta'ala's Generosity multiplies in Ramadaan. When Allah Ta'ala sees His servants carry out all their duties faithfully and strive to gain closeness to Him through their Fasting, Salaat, patience, recitation of Quraan, zikr, dua, and controlling of even permissible desires and needs like food, drink etc. then Allah Ta'ala bestows on His faithful servants a special prize on the night preceding the day of Eid.
THE PRIZE GIVING NIGHT : The night before Eid ul Fitr is known as Laylatul Jaaizah (the night of prize giving). It is on this night that Allah Ta-ala rewards His servants for all the good that they have done in Ramadaan.
Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam said: “ On the last night of Ramadhaan the fasting Muslims are forgiven .” The Sahaabah radiyallahu anhum inquired,
“O Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam, is that the night of power(Laylatul Qadr)?”
Rasullallah (Sallahu Alayhi Wasallam) replied: ‘ No! But it is only right that a servant should be given his reward on having completed his duty’ [Ahmad].
We should engage in acts of worship on this night. We should make dua and ask Allah for forgiveness, read Quraan, make Zikr etc.
The Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, is reported to have said: Whoever stands up (in worship) in the nights preceding the two Eids expecting rewards from his Lord, his heart will not die when the other hearts will die . (Ibn Majah)
EID-UL-FITR :
Celebrated on the first day of Shawwaal, at the completion of Ramadhaan. Shawwaal is the 10th month of the Islamic calendar. Eid-al-Fitr is a very joyous day for the believing men and women. On this day Muslims show their real joy for the many blessings Allah Ta'ala has given to them to fulfil their obligation of fasting and other good deeds during the blessed month of Ramadhaan.
SADAQATUL FITR -Islam has prescribed a simple yet graceful way to observe this happy day. First of all well off Muslims start their day by giving charity-Sadaqtul Fitr to the poor of their society, so that the less endowed can also enjoy their day along with others. Ibn Abbas(Radiallahu Anhu) said that the Messenger of Allah Ta'ala (Sallalaahu Alaihi Wasalaam) enjoined Sadaqatul Fitr so that those who fasted may be purified of idle deeds and shameful talk committed during Ramadaan and so that the poor may be fed. Whoever gives it before salaah(even days before) will have his obligation accepted, and whoever gives it after salaah it will be an ordinary charity.(Hadith -Abu Dawood)
SUNNAH ACTS ON THE DAY OF EID:
Wake up early.
Take a Ghusl (bath) before Eid Salaah
Brush your teeth (use Miswaak)
Dress up, putting on best clothes available.
Use itr (perfume)
Eat something sweet before proceeding to the Eid Musallah e.g. Dates etc.
Pay Sadaqatul Fitr before Salaatul-Eid (on Eid-al-Fitr).
Go to Eid Musallah (Eid Gah/prayer ground) early.
Offer Salaah-al-Eid in congregation in an Eid Musallah except when weather is not permitting like rain, snow, etc.
Use different roads en route to the Eid Musallah and back home.
Recite the following Takbir on the way to Eid Musallah :
Allahu-Akbar, Allahu-Akbar. La ila-ha illallahu Allahu-Akbar, Allahu-Akbar. Wa-lillahil hamd. (Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest. There is no god but Allah. Allah is Greatest, Allah is Greatest. And all praises are for Allah)
THE EID PRAYER
On the morning of Eid Allah sends down the Malaa’ikah(Angels) to all the lands of the earth where they take their positions at access points of roads, calling out with a voice that is heard by all except man and jinn. “ O Ummah of Muhammad (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) come forth from your houses towards a Lord that is noble and gracious, who grants much and pardons the major sins ”.
When they proceed towards the places for their Eid salaah, Allah says to the Malaa’ikah: “ What indeed is the reward of that employee who had rendered his services?” The Malaa’ikah replies, “ O Lord and Master, it is only right that he should receive his reward in full for his services” . Allah Ta'ala then says, “ I call you to witness, O My Malaa’ikah, that for their having fasted during the month of Ramadhaan, and for their having stood before Me in prayer by night, I have granted to them as reward My pleasure and have granted them forgiveness. O My servants ask now of Me, for I swear by My honour and My greatness, that whatsoever you shall beg of Me this day in this assembly of yours for the needs of the Hereafter, I shall grant you; and whatsoever you shall ask for worldly needs, I shall look at you favourably. By My honour I swear, as long as you shall obey My commands, I shall cover your faults. By My Honour and My Greatness do I swear that I shall never disgrace you among the evil-doing ones and disbelievers. Depart now from here, you are forgiven. You have pleased Me and I am pleased with you.
The Malaa’ikah(Angels) on seeing this great reward bestowed by Allah upon the ummah of Muhammad(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr become greatly pleased and happy”. [Targheeb, also a similar hadith reported by Anas (radhiyallahu anhu) in Bayhaqi].
Jubayr ibn Nufayr (RadiaAllahu Anhu) said: 'When the companions of Allah Ta'ala's Messenger (peace be upon him) met on the day of `Eid, they would say to each other, ' TaqaballAllahu Ta'ala minna wa minkum (may Allah Ta'ala accept from you and us ). " (Fathul Bari ).
TIPS ON HOW TO SPEND THE DAY OF EID:
Keep in mind the pleasure of Allah and uphold Shari'ah at ALL times.
Adorn yourself and your family modestly in the best of garments (not necessarily new).
Avoid over eating and other festivities that have no benefit.
Visit the poor, needy, orphans, elderly and sick.
Should Eid be made at "my mum or your mum or wherever?" This requires Shura/Mashurah (mutual consultation). Shurah is a Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (Sallalaho alaihe wassallam).Try to compromise and accommodate each other.
Maintain and strengthen family bonds- Rasulullah (Salallaho alaihe wassallam) is reported to have said, " Anyone who wishes to have his means of livelihood enlarged and a prolonged life, should treat his relatives with kindness. "(Hadith)
Don't forget the suffering, oppressed, poor and needy Muslims in all parts of the world in your du'as and charity. Be punctual with our acts of worship and on this joyous day.
BE CAUTIOUS! - Avoid excessive indulgence of any kind and stay away from places where the laws of Islam are violated. It is a joyous occasion indeed and let it be spent in ways that are pleasing to our Creator.
Use the day profitably to earn the pleasure of Allah Ta'ala and continue to do so everyday. A Muslim is Muslim for life and not just during Ramadaan.
WHAT NOW AFTER RAMADAAN… We leave the month Ramadaan, its beautiful days and nights, we leave the Month of Mercy, Quraan, Taqwa and Ibadat, sympathy, forgiveness...we need to ask ourselves:
Ramadaan is over and what have we gained?
Ramadaan was a 30 day course on self restraint and piety, have we graduated from the course having learnt to fight our desires and defeat them..?
Have we recharged our spiritual batteries and gained Taqwa (Allah consciousness)?
If we have …then ALHAMDULILLAH (Praise be to Allah)…now let us continue to obey Allah Ta'ala and ask Allah Ta'ala to keep us steadfast. Ramadaan is over and Shawwal has come, let us save the changes that we all made in our lives during the month of Ramadaan. Let Ramadaan not be a final destination but a stepping stone to greater good from now on. We need to make a firm resolution to continue with the momentum and lead a life of piety and free of sins. We now face another eleven months after this training. Let it be that we come out stronger and better servants of Allah Ta'ala…AMEEN!
Source : Eislam.co.za