BISMILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHIM
(CAUTION!!! IF SOMEONE OTHER THAN YOURSELVES WILL SLAUGHTER YOUR OWN UDHIYA ON YOUR BEHALF, MAKE SURE THEY WILL NOT SLAUGHTER IT UNTIL AFTER YOU PRAY, NOT AFTER THEY PRAY. FOR OTHER CONTINENTS ( AFRICA EUROPE, ASIA..) PRAY (PERFORM ED PRAYER) HOURS BEFORE US (AMERICA).)
Yawm an-Nahr: The tenth day of Dhul-Hijjah is the greatest day of Hajj.
It is known as Yawm an-Nahr (the day of Sacrifice), since it marks the ending of the major rite of Hajj – the Sacrifice.
And it is on this day that the Muslims commemorate the bounties and blessings of Allah. It was recorded in a Hadeeth by Imaam Ahmad (in his Musnad) that the day of Nahr is the most virtuous day to Allah.
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “The greatest day of Hajj (Pilgrimage) is the Day of an-Nahr (Slaughtering).” (Abu Dawood no: 1945]
Imaam Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 728H) said: “The most excellent day of the week is the day of Jumuah (Friday), by the agreement of the Scholars. And the most excellent day of the year is the day of an-Nahr.
Some of them said that it is the day of Arafat. However, the first opinion is the correct one, since it is related in the Sunan collections that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said:
“The most excellent days with Allah is the day of an-Nahr, then the day of al-Qarr (the day that the Muslims reside in Mina).” [ Related by Abu Dawood no: 1765].”
The day of An-Nahr is also known as ‘Eid al-Adhaa’ meaning the festival of Sacrifice and it is one of the two festivals which Allah has granted to the Ummah of Prophet (sallahu alaihe wa-sallam).
Anas (radhi allahu anhu) narrated, “Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) came to Medina and the people of Medina in the days of Jahiliyyah had two days of play and amusement. So, Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said:
“I came to you and you had in Jahiliyyah, two days of play and amusement. Allah has replaced something better for you. The Day of an-Nahr and the day of al-Fitr.” [(Saheeh) by Haafidh Ibn Hajr in Buloogh al-Maraam. Related by Musnad Ahmad vol: 3, no: 103]
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “The day of al-Fitr, and the day of an-Nahr, and the days of at-Tashreeq (the three days after an-Nahr) are our days of Eid (festivity); and they are days of eating and drinking.” [(Saheeh) by Shaikh al-Albanee in Saheeh al-Jamee (no: 8192). Related by Musnad Ahmad (no: 1945)]
HERE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ONE SHOULD DO ON THIS DAY.
1, Takbeer after the five obligatory Salaat
From the day of Arafat until the Asr prayer of the 13th day of Dhul-Hijjah, one should make Takbeer after every obligatory Salaat. Ibn Abee Shaybah relates that Alee (radhi allahu anhu) used to make the
Takbeer beginning after the Fajr prayer on the day of Arafat, until after the Asr prayer on the last day of at-Tashreeq.” Related by Ibn Abee Shaybah in al-Musannaf]
Shaikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullah) said: “The most correct saying concerning the Takbeer – that which the majority of the Salaf (Pious Predecessors), and the Scholars from the Companions and Imams were upon – is to begin making the Takbeer from Fajr (dawn) on the day of Arafat up until the last day of at-Tashreeq (the thirteenth of Dhul-Hijjah), after every Prayer.”
Imaam al-Khattaabee (rahimahullah) (d. 456H) said: « The wisdom behind saying the Takbeer in these days is that in the times of Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic ignorance), they used to slaughter for their Taaghoots (false objects of worship). So the Takbeers were prescribed in order to indicate that the act of slaughtering is directed to Allah alone, and by mentioning only His Name.” [Fath al-Baree]
As regards to the actual wording of the Takbeers , the following have been reported from the Sahabah:
1. Ibn Mas’ood (radiyallahu anhuma): “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illa Allah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar wa lillahil-Hamd.” [(Saheeh) Irwaa al-Ghaleel (650), Daraqutne, Ibn Shaibah] (Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, There is none worthy of worship except Allah. Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest and to Allah belongs all praises)
2. Ibn Abbas (radiyallahu anhuma): “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar wa lillahil-Hamd; Allahu Akbar wa-ajal, Allahu akbaru ala mahadana.” [(saheeh) – Bayhaqee (3/315)] (Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest and to Allah belongs all praises. Allah is the Greatest to that which He has guided us to)
3. Salman (radhi allahu anhu) : “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar kabeera.” [(saheeh) – Bayhaqee (3/316)] (Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest)
[Musnad Ahmad] Tahlil, Takbeer and Tamhid mean saying ‘La ilaha illa Allah’, ‘Allahu Akbar’ and ‘al-Hamdu lillah’, respectively.
Ishaaq narrates from the scholars of the Taabi’een that in these ten days they used to say: Allahu-Akbar, Allahu-Akbar; Laa-ilaaha-ill-Allah; waAllahu-Akbar, Allahu-Akbar; Wa-lillaahil-hamd.
2, Attend Salaat al-Eid and the Khutbah.
3, Slaughter Udhiyah (Sacrifice)
The animal can be sacrificed after the Eid prayer and the Khutbah (not when the Khutbah or the prayer starts) until before the sunset of the last day of Tashreeq, which is 13th Dhul-Hijjah. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said:
« Whoever sacrifices before the prayer, let him repeat it. » [Saheeh Muslim]
CAUTION! IF SOMEONE OTHER THAN YOURSELVES WILL SLAUGHTER YOUR OWN UDHIYA ON YOUR BEHALF, MAKE SURE THEY WILL NOT SLAUGHTER IT UNTIL AFTER YOU PRAY, NOT AFTER THEY PRAY. FOR OTHER CONTINENTS ( AFRICA EUROPE, ASIA..) PRAY (PERFORM ED PRAYER) HOURS BEFORE US (AMERICA).
4, Perform plenty of Nafl (voluntary) prayers.
5 Recite the Qur’aan.
6, Give Charity
7, Hasten to make Sincere Tawbah (Repentance) to Allah because repentance means coming back to Allah. It is forgoing all those deed, which Allah dislikes in open and in secret, out of regret for what has passed, abandoning them immediately and being determined not to return to it again.
When a Muslim combines repentance with good deeds during the most virtuous day, this is a sign of his success. Allah says: “But as for him who repented, believed and did righteous deeds, then he will be among those who are successful.” [Soorah al-Qasas (28): 67]
There is much to be gained, so make the most of these invaluable and irreplaceable days.
EID MUBARK!
TAQABBALALLAHOU MINNA WA MINKUM
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Mouhamed M. Sakho Tidjani
www.icfaonline.com
