Salat al-Eid is a Wajib (strongly recommended, but just short of obligatory) congregational prayer. It consists of two Raka'ah (units) with seven Takbirs in first Raka'ah and five Takbirs in second Raka'ah . Unlike the five daily canonical prayers, no adhan (Call to Prayer) or iqama (call) is pronounced for the two Eid prayers. It must be offered in congregation. The Salaat (prayer) is then followed by the Khutbah, or sermon, by the Imam. The Khutbah is considered an integral part of the Eid prayer and so listening to it is thus considered Wajib. During the Khutbah, the Imam reminds the Muslim community about its responsibilities and obligations towards Allah, and good works, kindness, mercy and generosity towards their fellow Muslims and humanity as a whole.
At the conclusion of the prayers and sermon, the Muslims embrace and exchange greetings with one other (Eid Mubarak), give gifts (Eidi) to children, and visit one another. Many Muslims also take this opportunity to invite their non-Muslims friends, neighbours, co-workers and classmates to their Eid festivities to better acquaint them about Islam and Muslim culture.
Rules Regarding the Animal to be Sacrificed
- The animal has to be one of the cattle approved by the Sharia (Cow, Camel, Goat, Sheep etc.)
- The animal has reached the required age. The adult age is:
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- Six months for a sheep
- One year for a goat, lamb
- Two years for a cow
- Five years for a camel
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| BBQ Lamb..yum yummm...... |
- The animal is free from an obvious defect like a one-eyed animal whose defect is obvious, a sick animal whose sickness is obvious, a lame animal whose limp is obvious and an emaciated animal that has no marrow in its bones
- The animal is in full possession of the one who is offering the sacrifice; i.e. it is not stolen or taken by force, not of joint possession or held in pledge
- The animal can not be sold or given away once selected or bought for sacrifice, unless exchanging for something better.
Rules Related to the Person offering the Sacrifice
- Being a Muslim
- It is necessary for the one who intends to offer the sacrifice that he does not remove any hair or nail from the sunset on last day of Zhul-Qa’dah until the sacrifice is done on the Eid day for the Hagi people
- Doing the slaughter with one’s own hands. If one is not able to do so then he can appoint some one else to do the slaughter on his behalf. In such case one should witness his slaughter if at all possible.
- It is a necessary condition of the sacrifice that the animal be slaughtered with the intention of offering a sacrifice (udhiyah). The intention must be in the heart, and should not be spoken out loud.
- Taking the Name of Allah at the time of slaughter.
The Takbir and Other Rituals
The Takbir is recited from the dawn of the tenth of Dhu al-Hijjah to the thirteenth, and consists of:Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar الله أكبر الله أكبر الله أكبر lā ilāha illā Allāh لا إله إلا الله Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar الله أكبر الله أكبر wa li-illāhil-hamd ولله الحمد
- Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest,
- There is no deity but Allah
- Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest
- and to Allah goes all praise
Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar الله أكبر الله أكبر lā ilāha illā Allāh لا إله إلا الله wa Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar والله أكبر الله أكبر wa li-illāhil-ḥamd ولله الحمد Alḥamdulillāh `alā mā hadānā, wa lahul-shukru `ala mā awlānā الحمدلله على ما هدانا و له الشكر على ما اولانا
- Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest,
- There is no deity but Allah
- and Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest
- and to Allah goes all praise, (We) sing the praises of Allah because He has shown us the Right Path. (We) gratefully thank Him because He takes care of us and looks after our interests.
Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar الله أكبر الله أكبر الله أكبر lā ilāha illā Allāh لا إله إلا الله Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar الله أكبر الله أكبر wa li-illāhil-ḥamd ولله الحمد Allāhu akbar kabīra, wal ḥamdu lillāhi kathīra, wa subḥāna Allāhi bukratan wa aṣīlā الله أكبر كبيرا والحمد لله كثيرا وسبحان الله بكرة وأصيلا lā ilāha illā Allāh waḥdah(i) لا اله إلا الله وحده Ṣadaqa wa`dah, wa naṣara abdah, wa 'a`azza jundahu wa ḥazama al-aḥzaba waḥdah صدق وعده ونصر عبده وأعز جنده وهزم الأحزاب وحده lā ilāha illā Allāh لا إله إلا الله walā na`budu illā iyyāh ولا نعبد إلا إياه Mukhliṣīn lahu ud-dīn wa law kariha al kāfirūn مخلصين له الدين ولو كره الكافرون Allāhumma ṣallī `alā Sayyidinā Muḥammad, wa `alā āla Sayyidinā Muḥammad, wa `alā aṣḥabi Sayyidinā Muḥammad, wa `alā anṣāri Sayyidinā Muḥammad, wa `alā azwāji Sayyidinā Muḥammad, wa `alā ḏurriyyati Sayyidinā Muḥammadin wa sallim taslīman kathīra اللهم صل على سيدنا محمد وعلى آل سيدنا محمد وعلى أصحاب سيدنا محمد وعلى أنصار سيدنا محمد وعلى أزواج سيدنا محمد وعلى ذرية سيدنا محمد وسلم تسليما كثيرا
- Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest,
- There is no deity but Allah
- Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest
- and to Allah goes all praise
- Allah is the Greatest, all Praise is due to Him, And Glory to Allah, eventide and in the morning
- There is no god, but Allah the Unique
- He has fulfilled His Promise, and made Victorious His worshipper, and made Mighty His soldiers and defeated the confederates
- There is no deity but Allah
- He alone we worship
- With sincere and exclusive devotion, even though the infidels hate it
- O Allah, have Mercy on our Prophet Muhammad, and on the family of our Prophet Muhammad, and on the Companions of our Prophet Muhammad, and on the Helpers of our Prophet Muhammad, and on the wives of our Prophet Muhammad, and on the offspring of our Prophet Muhammad, and bestow upon them much peace.
from: Wikipedia
