Eid Al-Fitr
The Eid Khutba begins with the following declaration of faith:
Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest, there is no Lord except Allah and all praise and thanks to Allah.
Dear brothers and sisters today is the day of joy and happiness as we mark the end of the blessed month of Ramadhan.
It has been a month of devotion, of worship and of reflection for us all. We do this with the intention of seeking Allah SWT’s pleasure and mercy and for admittance into Jannat. We pray that we are amongst those people who Allah SWT forgives in the blessed month just gone.
The imam reminded us of a hadith in which the Prophet SAWS said:
“He who repents of a sin is like him who has committed no sin.”
Dear brothers and sisters today is the day we give praise and thanks to Allah SWT for the opportunity to complete another month of Ramadhan and all the rewards that come with it. In accepting this gift of Ramadhan, we are obliged to do the following in this day that marks the end of the month:
- We begin the day by eating some dates.
- We take a bath and put on our best clothes.
- We pay our Zakat-ul-Fitr so that the poor can be part of this celebration.
- We take one path to come to the masjid and a different path returning home so that we can spread the joy of Eid to the community.
- We greet one another, supplicate for one another, visit one another, and share joys with one another in the true spirit of love and brotherhood.
- And we culminate this celebration by chanting the Takbeer, glorifying Allah SWT.
Dear brothers and sisters, no-one wants to lose this wonderful state of being. Very few things in this world match the euphoria felt after the month of Ramadhan is over and one has successfully fasted, prayed and carried out acts of worship.
However, this day for most comes with a touch of sadness. Sadness, that Ramadhan, our beloved friend, the purifier of souls, and the much-anticipated annual visitor is leaving us.
We don’t know if we’ll live to see another Ramadhan. But in the meantime, we need to work hard to hang on to the good things we’ve done during this blessed month.
Consistency is the key here and so there are 3 things that one should be mindful of that they can carry on over the next 11 months until we are reunited with this blessed month once again.
Firstly, let’s keep the Quran as our companion. Whether it be a juz, a page or an ayat, don’t forget the book of Allah as it will serve to keep your spirits lifted throughout the year. And specifically recite Sura Al-Iklas 3 times daily. The reward for this is as if we finished the whole Quran every day.
Secondly, let’s keep the Masjid as our solace. The local masjid is never busier than the month of Ramadhan and never quieter than the months that come after it. The starting point may differ for us all, but a recommendation would be to at least come for Isha and Fajr at the masjid. The reward for this is as if we prayed the whole night.
And lastly, let’s fast the whole year round. Not every day of course but in a way we can achieve that level of reward by fasting 6 days of this forthcoming month of Shawaal. This is what the Prophet SAWS has told us is the reward for this act of worship.
Dear brothers and sisters, today is a day of celebration and joy. Let’s spend it in the right manner and then retain our good habits in our actions over the forthcoming year.
Read MoreThe Etiquettes of Eid
The month of Ramadan is almost over and soon we will be yearning again for this blessed month to return. The festival of Eid is one of two in the Islamic calendar which are marked as times of celebration.
We have the added benefit insh’Allah that unlike last year, we have eased lockdown restrictions, along us to spend more quality time with our loved ones.
As with all things relating to our deen, this day also marks an opportunity to gain immense blessing and reward from Allah SWT. We can achieve this by adhering to the manners that we have been taught for this occasion by Allah SWT and through his Messenger SAWS.
And so, today’s reminder lists these so that we can make the most of the blessed day.
Firstly, it goes without saying that we do not fast on the day of Eid. Abu Ubaid narrated. Umar Bin Al-Khattab addressed the people saying: “O people! Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) has forbidden you to fast (on the first day of) each of these two ‘Ida, for one of them is the Day of breaking your fast, and the other is the one, on which you eat the meat of your sacrifices.”
Second is to do lots of Takbeer. The imam reminded us of Sura Al-Baqarah, ayat 185 in which Allah SWT said:
And to Glorify Allah for that to which He has guided you; perhaps you will be grateful.
For those who don’t know the takbir. It is:
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La illaha il Allah, Alahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Wa-lillaahil-hamd.
And translated this is: Allah is Greatest, Allah is Greatest, Allah is Greatest, There is no God but Allah, Allah is Greatest, Allah is Greatest, And all praise be to Allah.
The next is to match the appearance to the occasion. Brothers, this is the day to put in the effort. Wear your best clothes, new if possible, put on a nice fragrance the wife is always buying for you and look like you are celebrating the day. This is that day when you can be a little extravagant with your attire because this is the day of celebration, the appearance is not just for the children and the ladies, we must also play our part.
Fourthly, it is to eat something before you leave for prayer. The Prophet SAWS used to eat an odd number of dates before he left for the Eid prayer and we can earn the reward of following this sunnah by doing the same.
And finally, it is the journey to the masjid. Aim to come from one route and return home from a different route as this is also a sunnah but alongside this, greet one another with affection and warmth – muslim or otherwise along the way. This is both a sunnah and a sadaqa so earn the blessing again from performing the simplest of acts.
Dear brothers, we have strived hard this year in the month of Ramadan. Lets use this opportunity to celebrate our achievement and make the most of the day. The best way to earn the reward of the month of Ramadan is to continue with our good deeds from this month, to continue avoiding the bad deeds we left behind in this month and to avoid temptation that will no doubt resume after this month is over.
May Allah SWT accept our efforts in this blessed month of Ramadan. May Allah SWT accept our efforts on the day of Eid and may Allah SWT help us keep our good habits going after the month is over.
Read MoreEid Sermon (Khutba)
The Eid Khutba begins with the following declaration of faith:
Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest, there is no Lord except Allah and all praise and thanks to Allah.
The word Eid is an Arabic word, which is derived from the root word which means ‘that which comes back, time after time, and rejoicing’. It’s particular usage in Islam therefore, for the two major holidays, is because these days are meant to be days of rejoicing.
Dear brothers and sisters, all faiths have festivals or religious holidays and this is ours. We have seen living in the west what it means to experience the festivals of other faiths. So what does ours mean and how does it compare?
Of course, we have many similarities in that we are advised to take the day off work and study like others but our festival, our Eid is to do with Glorifying Allah SWT, it is to do with prayers and it is to do with giving in charity, while visting family and friends.
Unfortunately, this message is misinterpreted by some. Just look at the police presence and barriers in Rusholme and you will get the point but we ought to take this opportunity to remind ourselves to what this day truly means.
The imam referenced the following hadith to help remind us:
‘O people! (Tell me) what is the day today?’ The people replied, ‘It is the forbidden (sacred) day.’ He asked again, ‘What town is this?’ They replied, ‘It is the forbidden (Sacred) town.’ He asked, ‘Which month is this?’ They replied, ‘It is the forbidden (Sacred) month.’ He said, ‘No doubt! Your blood, your properties, and your honor are sacred to one another like the sanctity of this day of yours, in this (sacred) town (Mecca) of yours, in this month of yours.’ The Prophet (ﷺ) repeated his statement again and again. After that he raised his head and said, ‘O Allah! Haven’t conveyed (Your Message) to them’. Haven’t I conveyed Your Message to them?’ ” Ibn `Abbas added, “By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, the following was his will (Prophet’s will) to his followers:–It is incumbent upon those who are present to convey this information to those who are absent Beware don’t renegade (as) disbelievers (turn into infidels) after me, Striking the necks (cutting the throats) of one another.’ ”
This message is telling us how our blood, our properties and our honour are sacred to one another. It is warning us against cutting the throats of one another. So in this time and place, what message can we leave with this morning?
Dear brothers and sisters, this is a day of worship, action and supplication, it is a day of clearing hearts and being truthful, love and companionship, a day of charity on the poor and softness with others, the day when orphans tears are wiped away, a day of making up to family and friends especially parents, all for the sake of Allah, it is a day of looking for the needy, the ill, and to bring happiness to family, friends and neighbours, and to shake hands with others to remove any hatred between the brothers.
It’s a day of doing dua for those less fortunate that us. After all, that is what the Qurbani or sacrifice is about. But specifically, lets not forget to pray for those who are suffering right now. May Allah SWT ease the suffering of those in places like Syria, the Lavant, Burma, Yemen and may Allah SWT help those where people are suffering and dying through hunger and thirst.
And by doing all of these, we can show ourselves and one another, the true meaning of the Muslim festival of Eid. On behalf of Masjid Salahadeen, I wish you all a joyous Eid. As-salaamu’alaykum.
Read MoreEid-ul-Fitr
Dear brothers and sisters, Eid al Fitr is at our doors, and with that is the conclusion to the blessed month of Ramadan.
We made it through the longest Ramadan that we can experience as from this year forward they will not be quite as long as they were this year. And yet there is a feeling of sadness as we bid farewell to the blessed month for another year. May Allah SWT enable us to reap the reward of this and many more to come insh’Allah.
This month of Ramadan has been the source of many tests on us, particularly in Manchester and then in London. Often we are doing our duas, we focus on the people in countries overseas who are suffering. And rightly so, they are in need of our duas and we pray Allah SWT makes it easy for them.
However, there is a phrase in this country that says “Charity begins at home” and this is something the imam mentioned and is worth remembering. We all belong to this community of Manchester and then the community of UK. Whatever we may think of the politics of this place is a discussion outside of this reminder and this masjid. What matters though is that we do not neglect our own communities in our duas. That we pray for the city of Manchester, we pray for the country of England. Why? Because this is the country to which Allah SWT has put us and this is the country we call home. This is where we are living our lives and this is where are children are growing up. Why wouldn’t we have this place at the top of our list of duas? By praying for Manchester, we are praying for ourselves and our families that live here.
Alongside the tests, we have also had great news in this month. We had a city-wide initiative called Taste Ramadan which had non-muslims experience an iftar inside a masjid with local muslims. This was a great success and helped to heal our city from the pain it had felt earlier in the month. In regards to this masjid, we also had great news in that our outstanding debt of £27k was reduced to just £4k in a single night through the donations of the people that attend this masjid. Insh’Allah we are only a small step away from a massive achievement for this masjid.
And so with the month of Ramadan almost over, it is over to Eid-al-Fitr as the focus. As with the month of Ramadan, the day of Eid-al-Fitr has many recommendations and obligations upon us to perform. The first one of these was the Zakat-al-Fitr which was reminded of throughout the month and is expected to be paid before Eid-al-Fitr.
Alongside that though there are others which are the subject of today’s reminder. This reminder concludes with a to-do list of 7 items which are to be done around Eid-al-Fitr.
- The first one is of doing takbir. This translates to glorifying your Lord. We may have heard this upon entering the masjid on the day of Eid to perform the Eid prayer. Actually this sunnah is done from the moment of sunset on the final day of Eid until the beginning of the Eid prayer. The imam reminded us of Sura Al-Baqarah, ayat 185 in which Allah SWT said:
And to Glorify Allah for that to which He has guided you; perhaps you will be grateful.
For those who don’t know the takbir. It is:
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
La illaha il Allah
Alahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar,
Wa-lillaahil-hamd
Translated this is:
Allah is Great, Allah is Great, Allah is Great
There is no God but Allah
Allah is Great, Allah is Great
And all praise be to Allah
- To do purification, i.e. have a bath. Wear the best of clothes and put your best cologne on dear brothers.
- To eat some dates prior to leaving the house for the Eid prayer.
- To take children and women with you. Even if the women are not praying on that day.
- To listen to the khutba in full and to pray the Eid prayer. Some people leave after the Eid prayer and don’t wait for the khutba. Dear brothers and sisters, what is another 10 minutes or so just so that a sunnah is completed on this blessed of days?
- To give congratulations to one another. Dear brothers in particular, this is Eid-al-Fitr so congratulate each other after the khutba is completed, that means handshakes and hugs all round.
- And lastly, it is Sunnah to return to your homes via a different route to that which you take coming to the masjid so that more people witness the celebration of Eid.
Dear brothers and sisters, we struggled and strived our way in the month of Ramadan for the sake of Allah SWT and to reap the rewards of the blessed month. Let’s end it in the right manner by reaping the rewards of the blessed festival of Eid-al-Fitr.
Read MoreEid-ul-Adha
The Eid Khutba begins with the following declaration of faith:
Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest, there is no Lord except Allah and all praise and thanks to Allah.
Islam has two major holidays or celebrations. Eid-ul-Fitr which comes after the month of fasting and Eid-Al-Adha.
The word Eid itself is an Arabic word, which is derived from the root word which means ‘that which comes back, time after time, and rejoicing’.
It’s particular usage in Islam therefore, for the two major holidays, is because these days are meant to be days of rejoicing.
Eid al-Adha is meant to be recognition of the material and spiritual favours of Allah SWT to his creation, manifested by the ritual slaughtering necessary for all able Muslims to perform, following the way of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him).
In fact, this is mentioned in the Quran in Sura Al-Imran, ayat 67-68 in which Allah SWT states:
Abraham was neither a jew nor a Christian, but he was one inclining toward truth, a Muslim [submitting to Allah]. And he was not of the polytheists. Indeed, the most worthy of Abraham among the people are those who followed him [in submission to Allah] and this prophet, and those who believe [in his message]. And Allah is the ally of the believers.
Dear brothers and sisters, from this we can deduce that the Muslim nation is followers of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him).
The lessons of the way of the Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him), where in utter submission to Allah’s Divine Command, he was about to slaughter his very own son, until the last moment Allah sent an animal to be slaughtered instead, are many.
So, on this day of celebration, what lessons can we get from Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and the story of the animal slaughter?
When Prophet Ibrahim was commanded to sacrifice his son, it was a test of his faith. As believers we face many temptations and tests in this materialistic world. We must be ready and prepared for them.
When Prophet Ibrahim took his son to the sacrificial alter to sacrifice him he showed us the strength of his faith and belief in his Creator.
And lastly, the fact that Allah SWT replaced the young son with a ram teaches us that Allah SWT, above all else, is merciful and Allah SWT always rewards the patience and faith of the sincere believer.
Dear brothers and sisters, the human’s purpose in life is worship Allah SWT. It’s as simple as that. And this may sometimes present a test, but it is faith and faith alone that will see the true worshipper through life’s challenges.
On this day we commemorate the action of Prophet Ibrahim, by slaughtering a ram on the day of Eid.
The purpose of this sacrifice is not fulfilled by shedding the blood of the animal; it is really fulfilled when people submit themselves completely to the will and command of Allah SWT.
And on the specifics on the slaughter, one should slaughter either a sheep, cow, goat, buffalo or camel in the name of Allah. However, it is important to note that the meat is divided into three equal parts, one for the poor, one for the friends and one for you and your family
Dear brothers and sisters that concludes the khutba for Eid-al-Adha. Remember as you leave to return to your homes that one of the Sunna acts of this day is to return via a different route so as to spread the greetings of Salaam to different people upon your return. This counts for us as well here as it’s a form of dawah or invitation to the locals in our community.
On behalf of Masjid Salahadeen, I wish you all a joyous Eid.
As-salaamu’alaykum.
Read More
Eid-ul-Fitr
The Eid Khutba begins with the following declaration of faith:
Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest, there is no Lord except Allah and all praise and thanks to Allah.
Dear brothers and sisters, today is the day of joy and happiness as we mark the end of the blessed month of Ramadhan.
It has been a month of devotion, of worship and of reflection for us all. We do this with the intention of seeking Allah SWT’s pleasure and mercy and for admittance into Jannat.
We pray that we are amongst those people who Allah SWT accepts this month just gone. People whom He mentions in the Quran in various places, an example being in Sura Al-Imran, ayat 134:
Who spend in the cause of Allah during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people – and Allah loves the doers of good
Dear brothers and sisters, today is the day we give praise and thanks to Allah SWT for the opportunity to complete another month of Ramadhan and all the rewards that come with it.
In accepting this gift of Ramadhan, we are obliged to do the following in this day that marks the end of the month:
We begin the day by eating some dates.
We take a bath and put on our best clothes
We pay our Zakat-ul-Fitr so that the poor can be part of this celebration.
We take one path to come to the masjid and a different path returning home so that we can spread the joy of Eid to the community.
We greet one another, supplicate for one another, visit one another and share joys with one another in the true spirit of love and brotherhood.
And we culminate this celebration by chanting the Takbeer, glorifying Allah SWT.
Dear brothers and sisters, no-one wants to lose this wonderful state of being. Very few things in this world match the euphoria felt after the month of Ramadhan is over and one has successfully fasted, prayed and carried out acts of worship.
However, this day for most comes with a touch of sadness. Sadness, that Ramadhan, our beloved friend, the purifier of souls, and the much anticipated annual visitor is leaving us.
We don’t know if we’ll live to see another Ramadhan. But in the meantime, we need to work hard to hang on to the good things we’ve done during this blessed month.
Consistency is the key here and so there are 3 things that one should be mindful of that they can carry on over the next 11 months until we are reunited with this blessed month once again.
Firstly, let’s keep the Quran as our companion. Whether it be a juz, a page or an ayat, don’t forget the book of Allah as it will serve to keep your spirits lifted throughout the year. And specifically recite Sura Al-Iklas 3 times daily. The reward for this is as if we finished the whole Quran every day.
Secondly, let’s keep the Masjid as our solace. The local masjid is never busier than the month of Ramadhan and never quieter than the months that come after it. The starting point may differ for us all, but a recommendation would be to at least come for Isha and Fajr at the masjid. The reward for this is as if we prayed the whole night.
And lastly, let’s fast the whole year round. Not every day of course but in a way we can achieve that level of reward by fasting 6 days of this forthcoming month of Shawaal. This is what the Prophet SAWS has told us is the reward for this act of worship.
Dear brothers and sisters, today is a day of celebration and joy. Let’s spend it in the right manner and then retain our good habits in our actions over the forthcoming year.
On behalf of Masjid Salahadeen, I wish you all a joyous Eid-ul-fitr.
As-salaamu’alaykum.
Read MoreCharity of Eid-ul-fitr
Allah SWT says in the Glorious Quran:
The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion.
So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey – then an equal number of other days.
Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.
Dear brothers and sisters, we are reaching the end of this amazing month of blessing and reward insh’Allah and with it comes the celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr.
And prior to that is a charity that Muslims are obliged to give and that is Zakah-al-Fitr also known as Fitrana amongst the Asians amongst us or Sadaqa al-Fitr.
The word Fitr comes from the word Iftar which we know is breaking of the fast and thus this name is given to a charity which is distributed at the end of the fasts of Ramadan.
So what is the purpose of this charity and why is is compulsory or wajib on each Muslim, male or female, young or old?
Well, the primary practical purpose of this is to provide those who fasted with a means of making up for their errors during the month of fasting. After all, this month is a challenge and none of us are perfect. Allah SWT therefore provides us with an ability to perfect ourselves over the course of the month by the act at the end of the month. SubhanAllah!
However, there is even a more significant practical purpose and in this we see the bond that this ummah is blessed with. By paying this charity, we are providing a means for the poor to celebrate the festival of Eid al-Fitr.
Throughout the year, we give khutbas on how as Muslims we shouldn’t celebrate Easter, Christmas and other non-Muslim festivals. Allah SWT has only made permissible for us to celebrate Eid and therefore with this charity nobody is left out of this festival.
This is mentioned in the following Hadith in which Ibn Abbas reported:
The Prophet SAWS made Zakah al-Fitr compulsory so that those who fasted may be purified of their idle deeds and shameful talk (committed during Ramadan) and so that the poor may be fed.
Whoever gives it before the Salah will have it accepted as Zakah, while he who gives it after Salah has given Sadaqah.
Dear brothers and sisters, this brings us onto the final point on this important topic and that is the conditions on giving this particular charity.
We already know that it is obligatory. But how much do we give and when is it meant to be given?
Well, in answer to the first point. We go back to the time of the Prophet SAWS then it was calculated as one Sa’ of dried dates or barley. However, this isn’t literal and so in today’s age we have Zakat al-Fitr calculated for us by the local masjid.
Ours is £x.xx and we are collecting for it at the back of the masjid should you wish to pay.
Secondly, and more importantly, we want to be sure that we don’t miss the deadline for paying it. If one misses the time period without good reason, then he has sinned and cannot make it up.
So when to pay? This charity becomes obligatory from the sunset on the last day of the fasting until the beginning of Eid prayers. Anything paid after the prayer is considered a charity and not specifically this obligatory charity.
However, it can be paid prior to this time also as has been reported by many companions of the Prophet SAWS and so the collection is there at the back for those who dont want to miss the deadline.
Dear brothers and sisters, Alhamdullilah we were given the opportunity to taste Ramadan again this year. Let’s sign off in the best possible way and insh’Allah use it as a springboard for the year ahead.
May Allah SWT enable us to pay Zakat-ul-Fitr, may Allah SWT accept our Zakat-ul-Fitr, and May Allah SWT perfect our Ramadan with Zakat-ul-Fitr.
Ameen walhamdulilahirabilalameen
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