From
"Al-A`yaad fil Islaam" by M. al-Jibaly
©
QSS
DEFINITION OF `EID
A `Eid is any day of gathering. It is
derived from `aada (meaning returned), because people return to it
periodically. Some scholars say that it derives from `aadah (custom
or practice) because people are accustomed to celebrating it. Its
plural is a`yaad.
Ibn ul `Arabee said: "It
is called `Eid because it returns every year with renewed happiness."
[Lisaan ul-`Arab]
Ibn `Aabidayn said: "The
`Eid days are thus named because Allaah (swt) renews His bounties in
them; and He distributes His blessings to His worshippers. Thus on
`Eid ul-Fitr, He permits them to eat after having been restrained
from food; and He requires paying sadaqat ul-fitr (the charity of
breaking the fast) to the needy. And on
`Eid ul-Adha, He permits the completion of Hajj (pilgrimage) with the
final Tawaaf (circulating around al-Ka`bah); and He requires offering
sacrifices and distributing their meat, etc. Also, it is customary
for people to be joyful, happy, and rejoicing during the `Eid days."
[Haasheeyatu ibn `Aabidayn]
THE TWO `EIDS ARE A MERCY FROM
ALLAAH
Anas (radhiallaahu `anhu) reported that
upon arriving in al-Madeenah, the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wa
sallam) found its people celebrating two days whose significance was
held over the Jaahiliyyah. The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wa
sallam) said: "When I came upon you, you
had two days that you continued to celebrate from the Jaahiliyyah;
indeed Allaah has substituted them for you with what is better: the
day of Sacrifice and the day of Fitr (breaking the fast).
[Ahmad, Abu Dawud and others; authentic]
Shaykh Ahmad `Abdurrahmaan al-Banna
said: "(They are better because,) they day
of Sacrifice and that of Fitr are legislated by Allaah (subhaanahu wa
ta`aalaa), and are His choice for His creatures. They follow the
completion of two of the greatest pillars of Islaam, Hajj and
fasting. On these days, Allaah (swt) forgives those who performed
Hajj and who fasted, and He sheds mercy on all of His obedient
creatures. On the other hand, the days of Nayrooz and Mihrajaan were
devised by the people of those times, because of good weather or
other passing qualities. The difference between the two cases is
apparent for whomever ponders upon this." [Al-Fath
ur-Rabbani]
THE ISLAMIC CONCEPT OF
CELEBRATING
Islaam teaches Muslims how to celebrate
the `Eids. On these days, the Muslims take a bath and wear their best
clothes. Even though fasting is not permitted on the day of `Eids,
yet, the major part of the celebration is not eating or drinking -
rather, it is a prayer that brings Muslims together to remember
Allaah's bounties and celebrate His glory and greatness. The `Eids
and their celebration in Islaam carry a distinctive meaning and
spirit. They are totally different from the celebrations in other
nations and cultures. For other nations, a holiday is a chance to
immerse in worldly pleasures, or to involve oneself in prohibited
acts to the utmost. Not so for Muslims! For Muslims, the `Eid is an
occasion to increase in good deeds. Each `Eid marks the conclusion of
an important worship, and the determination to continue in obedience
and submission to Allaah (swt). In moments of extreme pleasure or
sadness, a Muslim never forgets his Lord's greatness, might, glory,
and watchfulness. A Muslim's actions are always controlled by this
continued remembrance and awareness. Thus the `Eid is not an occasion
to take a vacation from Islamic responsibilities and commitments, nor
to waste time and money in extravagance. It is not "fun for the
sake of fun". Rather, it is controlled and directed rejoicing
that is of ultimate and definite benefit for the Muslim. The `Eid is
a chance to multiply good deeds by bringing happiness and pleasure to
the hearts of other Muslims, by helping and supporting the poor and
needy, and by getting involved in pastimes that emphasize the strong
and serious Islamic character.
...
Singing on `Eid
Singing accompanied by the beating of
duff is an approved type of lahw (vanity) for women during the `Eid.
`Aa'isha (R) said: "Allah's Messenger,
sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam, entered (my house) when I had two
little girls singing the songs of Bu`aath (pre-Islamic war lore) and
beating on a duff; so he lay down on the bed and turned his face
away. Then Abu Bakr came in and scolded me saying, 'The flutes of
Shaytaan played in the presence of Allah's Messenger?' So Allah's
Messenger (saws), turned toward him and said, 'Leave them alone, O
Abu Bakr! Every people have a `Eid, and this is our `Eid.' [Saheeh
al-Bukhari, Muslim, Ahmad and ibn Maajah]
Al-Baghawi commented on this hadith by
saying: "Bu`aath is a famous battle
of the Arabs, in which there was a great victory for the Aws over the
Khazraj. The war between the two tribes went on for one hundred and
twenty years - until Islam came. The two girls were singing poetry
that described fighting and courage, the mention of which is
supportive to the Deen. But as for songs that involve mentioning
sins, announcing prohibited matters, and displaying evil deeds - it
is all prohibited. And it is impossible that anything like that would
ever take place in the Prophet's (saws) presence without him
objecting adamantly to it. And as for his saying 'this is our `Eid',
it provides the reason for displaying joy in the two `Eids as being a
symbol of the Deen, because they are different from other days."
[Sharh us Sunnah 4:322]
From this hadith, and other subsequent
evidence, it is important to note the following:
A) The Prophet (saws)
did not object to Abu Bakr's statement that the duff, being a musical
instrument, is a flute of Shaytan. This is taken as an approval from
him (saws) of this general rule, which conforms with other authentic
evidence prohibiting the use of musical instruments.
B) He (saws) modified
Abu Bakr's understanding by indicating that there is an exception to
this general rule on specific occasions.
C) The occasions in
which Islam permits women to beat on the duff are the following:
1.
The two `Eids
2. weddings, and
3. to celebrate the arrival from
travel of a respected individual.
D) On these occasions,
hearing the beating of duff is permissible for men, for Allah's
Messenger (saws) did so and approved of it as is seen in the above
hadith. However, it is not permissible for men to listen to women's
singing, because this is a unjustifiable source of great fitnah. The
Prophet's (saws) listening to two little girls does not constitute
evidence in this regard.
E) Because of the
general texts prohibiting the use of musical instruments in general,
the only musical instrument that the women are permitted to use is
the duff; deriving any analogy from this to other instruments, and is
in clear violation of simple principles of fiqh and reason.
F) This privilege of
using the duff is not granted to men on any occasion - as will be
discussed below.
G) The permission given
to sing during the `Eids applies only to acceptable poetry that
encourages good deeds and behavior. It cannot be extended to the
songs calling to sins and disobedience, as is common in many cultures
(see the earlier citation from al-Baghawi).
As indicated above, there are no reports
that the male companions beat on the duff. Thus, beating the duff is
allowed for women because it is typical of them, and Allah's
Messenger (saws) permitted them to do it, but he (saws) forbade men's
imitation of women and vice-versa. This view is upheld by the
majority of the scholars; for instance Shaykh ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah
(r) said:
"The Prophet
(saws) permitted some types of rejoicing on the occasion of weddings
and their like. He permitted the women, as well, to beat the duff
during weddings and festivities. As for the men, during his time, not
one of them would beat the duff nor clap their hands. Rather it is
confirmed in the Two Sahihs that he (saws) said: "Clapping the
hands is for women; and raising the voice with tasbeeh is for men."
And "Allah curses those men who imitate women, and those women
who imitate men." And singing and beating the duff are of the
acts typical of women. Because of this, the righteous Salaf labeled
the man who did that, effeminate." [Majmoo` ul-Fatawa
11:565]
And Ibn Qudamah (r) said: "As
for beating it (the duff) for men, it is makrooh (despised act) in
all situations. It was only done by women; and if men do it, they
would be imitating the women; and the Prophet (saws) has cursed those
men who imitate the women." [Al-Mughni 9:174]
Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, commenting on Ibn
Qudamah's words, said: "It is obvious that
his words mean its prohibition (for men)." [Kaff ur-Ru`aa
35]
And al Hafidh Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, the
author of the great commentary of Saheeh al-Bukhaaree, said: "The
hadith that says, "Announce (masculine plural command) the
weddings and beat (masculine plural command) the duff for it,' is
used by some people as evidence that beating the duff is not specific
to women. However, this hadith is unauthentic; and the
authentic hadiths (in this regard) give that permission to do that
for women. Men cannot be included in that because of the general
prohibition for men to imitate them." [Fath ul-Bari
9:226]
Al-Mubarakpuri agreed with this
statement of Ibn Hajar, and he added: "The
fuqaha (scholars) have said that the duff is that which has no bells,
as ibn al-Hammaam mentioned... Likewise, the permissible singing
during weddings is specific for women; it is not allowed for men."
[Tuhfat ul-Ahwathi 4:210]
And the great commentator of the Qur'an,
Ibn Kathir (r) said: "...Nothing is excluded from that
prohibition of musical instruments, except beating the duff for the
young girls - during `Eid days, at the arrival of a respected
individual from travel, and during weddings - as has been indicated
in the hadiths, and as has been established in various places. And
permitting that in some situations does not lead to permitting it in
all situations.
Common in our times are the ugly scenes
prophesized by Allah's Messenger (saws) in which men and women gather
to entertain themselves with musical instruments and other prohibited
acts. [al-Bukhari, Abu Dawud, al-Bayhaqi and others] May Allah guide
the Muslims to what is good for them in both lives.
SINNING ON `EIDS
There are many sins and acts of
disobedience practiced by some Muslims more frequently during the
`Eid days than at other times of the year. To them, the `Eid is an
occasion to give up some of the Islamic principles. They are usually
encouraged to do so by the state of joy that they experience during
the `Eids.
Mingling of Sexes
One of the frequently practiced acts of
disobedience is for men and women who are not mahrams (those
prohibited to marry each other) to mingle and do things prohibited in
Islam, such as:
- Touching and shaking hands.
- Men
and women chatting, laughing, and sometimes flirting with each
other.
- Men and women looking intently at each other.
Playing Music and Drinking
Alcohol
It is very common for people to play
music and listen to it during the `Eid. they often associate this
with drinking, or with national or belly dancing, all in the name of
Islam! All of this is prohibited by concensus among the early
scholars including the Four Imams. The Prophet (saws) said:
"There will
be among my Ummah those who would indulge in hir (unlawful sex),
wearing silk (for men), Khamr (any alocoholic beverage), and musical
instruments. Some of those people would camp beside a mountain. A
poor shepher tending their animals would come to them in the evening
asking for a need of his. They would say, "Come back tomorrow."
So Allah would destroy (most of) them during the night, bringing the
mountain down over them, and would transform others to apes and pigs
until the day of Resurrection." [al-Bukhari #5590, Abu
Dawud. Authenticated by Ibn Hajar through nine chains]
Improper Appearance
Muslims are supposed to dress up for the
`Eid. In doing so, however, both men and women commit many violations
in Islam, among which are the following:
- Men wearing natural silk or gold.
-
Men wearing tight pants
- Men shaving their beards.
- Women
exposing their hair and other parts of their bodies that Islamically
are obligatory to cover
- Women wearing perfumes, makeup,
decorated and alluring clothing, and some national costumes (Sari for
example) that contradict Islamic teachings.
Extravagance
People often spend extravagantly during
the `Eid. They waste money on things that are useless and of no
benefit for the Muslims. Allah ta`aala says: "Do
not waste your wealth senselessly. Those who spend wastefully are the
brothers of the Shaytans; and the Shaytan is ever ungrateful to his
Lord." [Qur'an 17:26-7]
And Allah's Messenger (saws) said: "A
son of Adam will not depart from his position (of reckoning) before
his Lord on the day of Resurrection until he is questioned about four
things:
- His lifetime - how did he pass it,
- his body -
how did he utilize it,
- his wealth - where did he earn it, and
how did he spend it
- and his knowledge - what did he do with
it."
[authentic hadith related by At-Tirmidhi]
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