Mistakes related to Eid al-Fitr

by Asma bint Shameem

🔺 Mistake #1: Spending the night of Eid in worship.

Some people think that it is prescribed to spend the night of Eid in worship.

They even call it "Laylatul Jazaa'" or “Laylatul Jaa’izah”, claiming that this is the night that their efforts will be 'paid off' by Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta'ala.

However, there is NO SAHEEH HADEETH legislating such a practice in any of the authentic hadeeth books.

Rather this practice is based on a VERY WEAK hadeeth and some scholars even consider it FABRICATED.

(See Silsilat al-Ahaadeeth al-Da'eefah wa'l-Mawdoo'ah by Sheikh al-Albaani)

🍃 Ibn Taymiyah said:

"The ahaadeeth in which the nights before the two Eids are mentioned are FALSELY attributed to the Prophet sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam."

So do NOT single out the night of Eid for Ibaadah, as this is a kind of bid'ah that is NOT proven from the Prophet (sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) or his Sahaabah.

However, if you wake up every day for Qiyaam or Tahajjud and it is part of you NORMAL nightly routine to pray and worship at this time, then it is okay to do so.

But to PICK OUT this night thinking there is extra reward and special status to worship this night is not correct.

(Rather the Ahaadeeth indicate that it’s the last night of “Ramadhaan” where Allaah forgives His slaves.

This is before the moon of Shawwaal is sighted.)

🔺 Mistake #2: Celebrating the night before Eid ("Chand Raat") in FORBIDDEN ways:

Some people do the exact opposite of the above and spend the night before Eid, singing, dancing , listening to music, with free mixing of men and women, lack of hijaab and hayaa'.

They forget the promises they made to Allaah during Ramadhaan to stay away from haraam.

Do you really want to throw away all your hard work and effort you put in worship during Ramadhaan for just a few hours of utterly useless waste of time?

Having said that, there is nothing wrong with applying henna, getting together with mahram family members and having halaal fun, if you want as a celebration for Eid.

But just remember moderation is the key to everything.

🔺 Mistake #3: Fasting on the Day of Eid

It is haraam to fast on the Day of Eid, as most of us know Alhamdulillaah.

"He (sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) forbade fasting on the day of (Eid) al-Fitr and the day of al-Nahr (Eid al-Adha)." (Bukhaari, Muslim)

🔺 Mistake #4: Visiting graves specifically on the day of Eid ONLY

Some people think it’s part of Eid to go visit the graveyard.

But that’s not true.

Do not make it a point to visit graves on Eid Day ONLY.

To do so goes against the teaching of the Prophet sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam.

It comes under the general meaning of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam’s prohibition on visiting graves on a specific day and making that like a festival.

(Ahkaam al-Janaa'iz wa Bida'uha by al-Albaani)

However, if one visits the graves throughout the year, without singling out the day of Eid, there is no harm in that.

🔺 Mistake #5: Women mixing with the men

It is not right for women and men to freely mix and mingle and hang out with each other for no reason, if they are not mahrams, whether it’s on Eid or throughout the year.

But we see a lot of brothers and sisters talking, joking, mixing, “eyeing” each other on Eid, although Allaah has told both the believing men and the believing women to lower their gaze.

Worse than that is when we see some totally non-mahram brothers and sisters shaking hands with each other or even hugging non-mahrams for "Eid".

Don’t forget, it is not permissible to shake hands of non-mahrams, EVEN if it is Eid!

🍃The Prophet (sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) said:

'If one of you were to be struck in the head with an iron needle, it would be better for him than if he were to touch a woman he is not allowed to." (al-Tabaraani; saheeh by al-Albaani).

🔺 Mistake #6: Women going out wearing perfume and makeup, tight clothing and no hijaab

This is such a serious issue, yet many people take this matter so lightly.

Throngs and throngs of young beautiful Muslim girls walk out into the prayer area and other places, all decked up with the most beautiful clothes, jewelry, make-up, perfume... for all the world to see.

Subhaan Allaah!

What happened to all your ibaadaat, the ayaat of the Quraan you read about Hijaab, the promises you made to Allaah to be good?

Remember dear sister, that it is FARDH for an adult Muslim woman to wear hijaab and cover herself and her hair.

And we will be asked about Hijaab on the Day we stand in front of Allaah.

🍃Allaah says:

"O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the believing women to draw their cloaks all over their bodies. That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allaah is Ever Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful" [al-Ahzaab:59].

🍃And the Prophet (sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) said:

"Any woman who puts on perfume and passes by people so that they can smell her fragrance, is an adulteress."

(al-Nasaa'i, al-Tirmidhi-hasan )

🔺 Mistake #7: Listening to music and attending Eid parties with haraam things.

It is forbidden in our Deen to listen to music, yet people take this matter very lightly too.

It's everywhere...on TV and on the radio, in cars, homes and marketplaces, and even on cell phones.

On Eid day, you see people driving by, music playing full blast, 'enjoying Eid',, thinking it's ok to do so.

They forget that there is no joy, no blessing in the disobedience to Allaah.

This confirms the words of the Prophet (sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) who said:

"There will be among my ummah people who will regard adultery, silk, alcohol and musical instruments as permissible."

(Bukhaari)

Yes, it is from the Sunnah to enjoy the celebration of Eid, but always remember to observe the limits prescribed by Islaam.

🔺 Mistake # 8: Missing the obligatory Salaah

The WORST mistake on Eid is when people miss their fardh salaah, although they were so eager to pray their five daily prayers during Ramadhaan and they even prayed Taraaweeh regularly although Taraaweeh prayer is not even fardh.

But as soon as Eid comes, they become lazy and completely forget the obligation of the five daily prayers.

Remember dear brothers and sisters, our salaah is the the MOST IMPORTANT thing in a Muslim’s life.

It’s the first thing we will be asked about and if it’s good, everything else will be good.

But if we’re lacking in the fardh salaah, then nothing will be of any use.

🍃 The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

"The first matter that the slave will be brought to account for on the Day of Judgment is the prayer. If it is sound, then the rest of his deeds will be sound.

And if it is bad, then the rest of his deeds will be bad."

(al-Tabarani; saheeh by al-Albaani, Saheeh al-Jami, vol.1, p. 503)

After all, what distinguishes us from the non Muslims?

It’s the Salaah, of course.

So do your BEST to pray on time.

Keep up the good habits you built in Ramadhaan and don’t let the Shaytaan make you lazy.

🔺 Mistake # 9:

Not saying the Takbeeraat out loud (for men) or at the right time.

Saying the takbeeraat out loud is one of the greatest Sunnahs on the day of Eid because Allaah says:

"(He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allaah [i.e. to say Takbeer (Allaahu Akbar) for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him"

[al-Baqarah:185]

According to Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen, the time for takbeer begins when it is proven that the new moon of Shawwaal has been sighted or thirty days of Ramadaan have been completed.

And it ends when the Eid prayer begins.

(Majmoo' Fataawa Ibn 'Uthaymeen)

Men should raise their voices reciting this dhikr wherever they may be, in the masjids, in their cars or homes, etc. but women should say it softly, without raising their voices.

🔺 Mistake # 10: “Feeling RELIEVED that Ramadhaan is finally over!”

Some people “can't wait” for Ramadhaan to be over and feel a sense of 'relief' once it ends, as if released from some kind of jail, Aaoodhu Billaah.

It's like they were waiting for their 'sentence' to end and now they are 'free'!

May Allaah protect us from that kind of thinking.

Remember, this fasting, this Ibaadah, this opportunity for dua and forgiveness is really a “precious blessing”on us, rather than hardship.

It is really for our own good and it is nobody but US that will benefit at the end.

Not only does fasting help us control our desires and train us for the rest of the year, but it also gives us compassion for the poor, as well as many physical and spiritual benefits.

But most of all, it brings us closer to Allaah and instills Taqwa in our hearts and is a means for attaining Jannah and avoiding the fire of Hell.

May Allaah accept our ibaadaat and enable us to keep up the training of Ramadhaan for the rest of the year. Ameen

And Allaah knows best.