Festivals in Islam

Verily, all thanks be to Allah, we thank Him, we adore Him and we seek His forgiveness. We beseech Him from the evils of our soul and the consequences of our handwork. Verily, he who Allah has guided, no one can mislead him and who Allah has mislead no one can guide him or save him except Allah.

My dear brothers and sisters, my topic before you is festivals in Islam. Islam is a religion that covers all aspects of life which includes festivals. Festivals is an event or community gathering usually staged by a local community which is celeberated by group of people in a particular center.

We have two types of festivals in Islam, namely:

1) Eid-l-Fitr

2) Eid-l-Adha

3) Jumah

An Hadith that supports this is as follows: ' on the authority of Ana's Bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, related that. When the messenger of Allah (PBUH) arrived at Madinah ,he met them celebrating two festivals and he asked that: 'what are these days all about?' They said they are the days of enjoyment and celebration, the Prophet (PBUH) said: Allah has recompense it for you the benevolence, Eid-l-Fitr and Eid-l-Adha."

Now let's take them in turns:

1) Eid-l-Fitr: This is celeberated on the 1st day of shawwal after thirty days or twenty nine days of fasting. This is celeberated to mark the end of Ramadan fasting. Zakatul fitr is given to the less privilege ones for them to rejoice.

2) Eid-l-Adha : it is also known as Eid-l-Kabir ( the big Eid), Eid-l-Hujjaj (Eid of Hajj), Eid-Qurban (Eid of Sacrifice), Eid Kubra, Yawmul-Nahr (The day of slaughter) and so on.

The festival is celebrated on the 10th day of Dhul-Hijjah which Allah named Yaumul Hajjil Akbar (The greatest day of Hajj). This day is among the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah in which they are the best days in the whole year and any act of good deeds done in any of these days shall be rewarded with multiples.

Muslims are expected to slaughter animals like ram, sheep, goat, camel or cow as sacrifice to the Almighty. Part of which is given to the poor, guest and immediate household.

There is a narration which states that the Prophet (SAW) used to slaughter two animals on the day of Eid. It was said that He (SAW) used to say upon slaughtering the first that this is for my household and I while the second is for the poor who can not afford one.

2) Jumat is the least: it is observed every Friday of the week. Muslim gather to mark it with just two rakaah. Khutbah is done before the prayer commences.

These three festivals are the ones in which a Muslim is expected to to celebrate.

To be continued....