Basics of Religious Education — Page 181
181 181 181 181 181 B ASICS OF R ELIGIOUS E DUCATION - F IFTH E DITION This Prayer is among Nawaafil and consists of eight raka`aat and is of- fered in four units of two raka`aat each. This is to be performed each night during the month of Ramadan after Ishaa' or at the time of Tahajjud. This consists of two raka`aat and may be offered during the eclipse of the sun or the moon. There are two `Eids in a year. One is called the `Eid-ul-Fitr (Eid of end of fasting) and the other is called `Eid-ul-Adhiya ( Eid of sacrifices). The Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated after the completion of one month of fasting in Ramadan. On this day, the Muslims are happy and rejoice for having been given the strength to fulfil their obligation of fasting. Everyone gets up early in the morning for the Fajr Prayer after which everyone bathes and puts on clean clothes and greets one another. After breakfast, the time of the `Eid Prayer starts. `Eid Prayer is usually held in an open space, prefer- ably away from populated areas. The Imam leads the Prayer which consists of two raka`aat. He repeats Takbeerat (i. e. , Allahu Akbar) seven times in the first Raka`ah and five times in the second one. In the first Raka`ah , after the first Takbeer and Thanaa, but before At-ta`awwuz, h e raises his hands to earlobes seven times, saying aloud the Takbeer each time. He drops his arms to his sides each time until after the seventh Takbeer , when he folds his arms and proceeds with the Prayer in a normal fashion. After the Prayer, the Imam gives the sermon on any appropriate topic. The same procedure is followed in Eid- ul-Adhiya Prayer. Eid-ul-Adhiya is celebrated to commemorate the obedience of Hadrat Ibrahim as and his son Hadrat Isma`eel as to the commandment of Allah. Hadrat Ibraheem as had a series of dreams in which he saw himself sacrificing his eldest son Isma`eel as. He inferred that it was perhaps the will of God that he should sacrifice his son alive. Hadrat Ibraheem as , being most obedient to God, was about to sacrifice his son Isma`eel alive, when God commanded him to stop and gave him the good news that he had indeed fulfilled His command. God was so pleased with Ibraheem as because of his obedience that He multiplied his progeny into billions up to the present time. He was also given the great honour of being the forefather of the Holy Prophet of Islam sa. Taraaweeh Prayer Kusoof Prayer `Eid Prayer Eid-ul-Fitr Eid-ul-Adhiya 5. 2 5. 2 5. 2 5. 2 5. 2 S S S S S A L A T A L A T A L A T A L A T A L A T — I — I — I — I — I NTRODUCTION NTRODUCTION NTRODUCTION NTRODUCTION NTRODUCTION T O T O T O T O T O S S S S S A L A T A L A T A L A T A L A T A L A T