عبدالله الكعبي
23 Aug 2009, 11:51 PM
The Fasting of Ramadan part2
The obligation of Zakaatul-Fitr
1) Zakaatul-Fitr is obligatory upon every Muslim individual, whether they are young or old, male or female, free or enslaved.
On the authority of Ibn 'Umar (radhi-yAllahu 'anhumaa) who said: ((The Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) made obligatory (the distribution of) Zakaatul-Fitr in Ramadan from a Saa' of dates or a Saa' of barley upon the slave and the free, the male and the female, and the young and the old from the Muslims)),
[The authenticity of this narration has been agreed upon by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]
Translators note: One Saa` is equal to four Mudd, and one Mudd is equal to the amount held by cupping the two hands together. It is a measure by volume not by weight.
2) The wisdom behind it being legislated: That it be a purifier for the fasting person from that which he may have fallen into from ill speech and sexual intercourse (whilst fasting in Ramadan), in addition to it being charity for the poor and needy and the destitute.
3) The legislated amount: One Saa' of:
a) wheat, or
b) barley, or
c) raisins / currants / sultanas, or
d) dates, or
e) cheese, or other than these from that which is considered to be a staple diet.
4) The legislated time for distributing it: The best time for distributing it is before the 'Eed (al-Fitr) prayer, while it is also permissible to distribute it before the day of 'Eed (al-Fitr) by one or two days. However, it is not permissible to delay it until after the 'Eed (al-Fitr) prayer since its distribution after the prayer will be considered as regular charity (and not Zakaatul-Fitr).
5) The legislated beneficiaries: It is to be distributed to:
a) the destitute (fuqaraa.);
b) the poor and needy (masaakeen);
c) those employed to assist in its collection and distribution;
d) free the captives;
e) those who have been inclined (towards embracing Islam);
f) those who are in debt;
g) for Allah's cause (fee sabee-lillaah);
h) the wayfarer (a traveller who does not possess the means to return to his land).
Translators note: As a point of reference, one can refer to the Qur'an in Soorah at-Towbah, Ayah 60.
The Prayer of the two 'Eeds (al-Fitr and al-Adh.haa) in the Musallaa
On the day of ('Eed) al-Fitr and al-Adh.haa, the Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) would come out to the musallaa (place just outside of town), and the first thing with which he would begin with would be the ('Eed) prayer.
[Transmitted by al-Bukhaaree]
2) The Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:
((The takbeer (the saying of Allahu Akbar) for (the 'Eed) al-Fitr (prayer) is (to be done) seven times at (the beginning of) the first (rak'ah) and five times at (the beginning of) the second (rak'ah) and the (standard) recitation (of the prayer) is to be done for each (rak'ah) after (the takbeer).)),
[Hasan, transmitted by Abu Daawood]
3) The Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) ordered us to make sure the women come out (of their homes) to attend the ('Eed) al-Fitr and al-Adh.haa (prayers), they being:
a) the captives;
b) those upon their menses;
c) the young unmarried virgins.
As for those upon their menses, then they are to abstain from the prayer itself and suffice with benefiting from listening to the khutbah (sermon). I said O Messenger of Allah, (and what if) one of us does not have a jilbaab (loose fitting outer garment worn over clothing)? He said:
((Then her sister is to provide her with a jilbaab)),
[It's authenticity is agreed upon by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]
4) On the day of ('Eed) al-Fitr, the Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) would not leave (for the 'Eed prayer) until he had eaten an odd number of dates.
[Transmitted by al-Bukhaaree]
Benefits extracted from these Ahaadeeth
1) The prayer of the two 'Eeds (al-Fitr and al-Adh.haa) are legislated as being two rak'ahs each. One pronounces the takbeer seven times at the beginning of the first rak'ah and five times at the beginning of the second rak'ah. Thereafter, (soorah) al-Faatihah is recited and (after it, another soorah from) what is easy.
2) The 'Eed prayer is to be performed in the musallaa, and that is a place just outside of town. The Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) would leave home and make his way to the musallaa for both the 'Eed (al-Fitr and al-Adh.haa) prayers. The young and the women and the youth would be with him, and even the menstruating women who were legally excused (from the prayer).
al-Haafith Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalaanee said in Fat.h al-Baaree: And for (the 'Eed prayers) they would depart to the musallaa, and it would not be held in the masjid except out of necessity.
3) One would begin the pronouncing of the takbeer on the night before 'Eed al-Fitr and cease to do so after the 'Eed prayer is over. Allah (Ta'aalaa) says:
{(He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allah [i.e. to say takbeer] for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him},
[Soorah al-Baqarah, Ayah 185]
Innovations during the 'Eed
1) Visiting the graves: It has become a habit to visit the graves on the days of 'Eed, and there is no evidence to support this during this period.
2) Free mixing: The free mixing of men and women at the graves. He (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:
((I have not left behind me a fitnah (trial) more harmful for the men than the (fitnah of the) women.)),
[The authenticity of this narration has been agreed upon by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]
3) Recitation of the Qur'an: It is prohibited to recite the Qur'an at the graves. He (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:
((Do not render your homes as graveyards. Certainly, the house within which Soorah al-Bakarah is recited is protected from the (evil of) Shaytaan)),
[Transmitted by Muslim]
And the Messenger (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) taught his companions to recite the following upon entering the graveyard:
((Peace be upon you all, O inhabitants of the graves, amongst the believers and the Muslims. Verily we will, Allah willing, be united with you, may Allah have mercy upon those already called and those still delayed among us all. We ask Allah for well-being for us and you (from the punishment))),
[Transmitted by Muslim]
The obligation of Zakaatul-Fitr
1) Zakaatul-Fitr is obligatory upon every Muslim individual, whether they are young or old, male or female, free or enslaved.
On the authority of Ibn 'Umar (radhi-yAllahu 'anhumaa) who said: ((The Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) made obligatory (the distribution of) Zakaatul-Fitr in Ramadan from a Saa' of dates or a Saa' of barley upon the slave and the free, the male and the female, and the young and the old from the Muslims)),
[The authenticity of this narration has been agreed upon by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]
Translators note: One Saa` is equal to four Mudd, and one Mudd is equal to the amount held by cupping the two hands together. It is a measure by volume not by weight.
2) The wisdom behind it being legislated: That it be a purifier for the fasting person from that which he may have fallen into from ill speech and sexual intercourse (whilst fasting in Ramadan), in addition to it being charity for the poor and needy and the destitute.
3) The legislated amount: One Saa' of:
a) wheat, or
b) barley, or
c) raisins / currants / sultanas, or
d) dates, or
e) cheese, or other than these from that which is considered to be a staple diet.
4) The legislated time for distributing it: The best time for distributing it is before the 'Eed (al-Fitr) prayer, while it is also permissible to distribute it before the day of 'Eed (al-Fitr) by one or two days. However, it is not permissible to delay it until after the 'Eed (al-Fitr) prayer since its distribution after the prayer will be considered as regular charity (and not Zakaatul-Fitr).
5) The legislated beneficiaries: It is to be distributed to:
a) the destitute (fuqaraa.);
b) the poor and needy (masaakeen);
c) those employed to assist in its collection and distribution;
d) free the captives;
e) those who have been inclined (towards embracing Islam);
f) those who are in debt;
g) for Allah's cause (fee sabee-lillaah);
h) the wayfarer (a traveller who does not possess the means to return to his land).
Translators note: As a point of reference, one can refer to the Qur'an in Soorah at-Towbah, Ayah 60.
The Prayer of the two 'Eeds (al-Fitr and al-Adh.haa) in the Musallaa
On the day of ('Eed) al-Fitr and al-Adh.haa, the Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) would come out to the musallaa (place just outside of town), and the first thing with which he would begin with would be the ('Eed) prayer.
[Transmitted by al-Bukhaaree]
2) The Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:
((The takbeer (the saying of Allahu Akbar) for (the 'Eed) al-Fitr (prayer) is (to be done) seven times at (the beginning of) the first (rak'ah) and five times at (the beginning of) the second (rak'ah) and the (standard) recitation (of the prayer) is to be done for each (rak'ah) after (the takbeer).)),
[Hasan, transmitted by Abu Daawood]
3) The Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) ordered us to make sure the women come out (of their homes) to attend the ('Eed) al-Fitr and al-Adh.haa (prayers), they being:
a) the captives;
b) those upon their menses;
c) the young unmarried virgins.
As for those upon their menses, then they are to abstain from the prayer itself and suffice with benefiting from listening to the khutbah (sermon). I said O Messenger of Allah, (and what if) one of us does not have a jilbaab (loose fitting outer garment worn over clothing)? He said:
((Then her sister is to provide her with a jilbaab)),
[It's authenticity is agreed upon by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]
4) On the day of ('Eed) al-Fitr, the Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) would not leave (for the 'Eed prayer) until he had eaten an odd number of dates.
[Transmitted by al-Bukhaaree]
Benefits extracted from these Ahaadeeth
1) The prayer of the two 'Eeds (al-Fitr and al-Adh.haa) are legislated as being two rak'ahs each. One pronounces the takbeer seven times at the beginning of the first rak'ah and five times at the beginning of the second rak'ah. Thereafter, (soorah) al-Faatihah is recited and (after it, another soorah from) what is easy.
2) The 'Eed prayer is to be performed in the musallaa, and that is a place just outside of town. The Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) would leave home and make his way to the musallaa for both the 'Eed (al-Fitr and al-Adh.haa) prayers. The young and the women and the youth would be with him, and even the menstruating women who were legally excused (from the prayer).
al-Haafith Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalaanee said in Fat.h al-Baaree: And for (the 'Eed prayers) they would depart to the musallaa, and it would not be held in the masjid except out of necessity.
3) One would begin the pronouncing of the takbeer on the night before 'Eed al-Fitr and cease to do so after the 'Eed prayer is over. Allah (Ta'aalaa) says:
{(He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allah [i.e. to say takbeer] for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him},
[Soorah al-Baqarah, Ayah 185]
Innovations during the 'Eed
1) Visiting the graves: It has become a habit to visit the graves on the days of 'Eed, and there is no evidence to support this during this period.
2) Free mixing: The free mixing of men and women at the graves. He (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:
((I have not left behind me a fitnah (trial) more harmful for the men than the (fitnah of the) women.)),
[The authenticity of this narration has been agreed upon by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]
3) Recitation of the Qur'an: It is prohibited to recite the Qur'an at the graves. He (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:
((Do not render your homes as graveyards. Certainly, the house within which Soorah al-Bakarah is recited is protected from the (evil of) Shaytaan)),
[Transmitted by Muslim]
And the Messenger (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) taught his companions to recite the following upon entering the graveyard:
((Peace be upon you all, O inhabitants of the graves, amongst the believers and the Muslims. Verily we will, Allah willing, be united with you, may Allah have mercy upon those already called and those still delayed among us all. We ask Allah for well-being for us and you (from the punishment))),
[Transmitted by Muslim]