Eid ul Adha: Know the dos and don’ts
Eid ul Adha, also known as Eid ul Kabir is one of the two most sacred celebrations in the religion of Islam. And as this celebration gets underway, there are some things that every practicing Muslim must take note of.
Some of these things include the time to observe the Eid payer, the rites to perform on this day and many others.
Eid ul Adha is the festival of ram slaughtering and also the festival of home visitation as learnt from the story of prophet Ibrahim.
READ ALSO: 4 myths about Eid ul Adha, and why Yorubas call the festival Ileya
On and some days before the day of this celebration, there are certain things expected of us to do as Muslims.
We have listed 5 of these things below:
1. OBSERVE THE DHUL HIJJAH FAST
During the last month in the calendar of the Muslims which is Dhul Hijjah, we are advised to fast for the first 10 days. Although this fast is not compulsory neither is it compulsory to observe the whole fast, it has been recorded that the month of Dhil Hijjah is one of the most beloved in the eyes of Allah.
So, we can either fast for these 10 days consequently or break it up as might be easy for us. For verily, the religion of Islam is simple.
Those who were unable to observe the Dhul Hijjah fast should look forward to observing the next. May Allah make it easy.
2. FASTING ON YAOMUL ARAFAH
In one of the narrations of the prophet, it was said that whoever fasts on the day of Arafah will have his sins from the year before and the coming year forgiven.
The day of Arafah is the day when the people who have gone on pilgrimage to the holy house of Allah in the city of Makka will climb the mountain of Arafah(the mountain of recognition). It is also on the day that the rites of these people are completed and they can prepare to return to their various abode.
The fast is for those who were not privileged to go on the privilege and the fast signifies one’s spiritual presence in the sight of Allah.
If we are not able to fast the 10 days of Dhul Hijjah, it is advisable that we do not miss the fast of the day of Arafah. The day of Arafah is the day before the day of Eid ul Adha.
3. EID PRAYER CAN BE OBSERVED ANYTIME AFTER THE SUN HAS RISEN
It is also pertinent to note that we can start to observe the Eid prayer after the sun must have risen which would be around 9 o’clock. We can observe Eid prayer from this time till the time when the sun reaches the centre. This is usually around 11:3a.m.
The stipulated number of rakats to pray is two and the prayer has no khutbah(sermon) before it.
4. FAST TO EID PRAYER
It is the sunnah of the prophet (PBUH) to fast to Eid prayer and return home to eat after he must have completed the prayer.
The best thing with which to break this short fast is a portion of the meat which was slaughtered. And the best part to eat is the kidney. And Allah knows best.
We pray that Allah makes this Eid a gainful one for us.
Taqaballahu minna wa minkum.
