Salat - The Muslim Prayer Book — Page 75
S al a t —The Muslim Prayer Book 75 rejoice for having been given the strength to fulfil their obligation of fasting. ‘ I dul-A dha is celebrated on the 10th of the month of Dhul- H ajj to commemorate the obedience of Hadrat Ibr a h i m as (Abraham) and his son Hadrat Ishmael as (Ism a ’ i l). Allah accepted the devotion and obedience of both of them and directed that a lamb be sacrificed instead of Hadrat Ishmael as. Muslims who gather in Makkah for H ajj , offer their sacrifices on the occasion of ‘ I dul-A dha , following the example of Prophet Ibr a h i m as. This act of sacrificing animals is repeated by Muslims all over the world. All Muslims, men, women, and children, join in the congregational two Rak‘ a t Prayer held in the open outside a village or town, if possible, on both ‘ I dul- Fi t r and ‘ I dul-A dha occasions. Early in the morning, on an ‘ I d day, after taking a bath, Muslims, young and old, put on their best clothes. Children specially, wear new garments. Perfume is worn by men and women alike, as it was the practice of the Holy Prophet sa to wear perfume on such occasion. Specially dishes are prepared on ‘ I d days in Muslim homes. On the occasion of ‘ I dul-Fi t r , one should pay Fi t r a nah before the ‘ I d Prayer. Fi t r a nah is spent on the poor and needy so that they, too, can join in the festivities of ‘ I d. Every member of the household is required to contribute towards the Fi t r a nah at the rate fixed for that year. Fi t r a nah is due in respect of children also, even of newborn babies, whose parents are expected to make the nescessary payments. One