Wa `alaykum as-salamu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
1- As a priority, the first option is to always make the obligatory actions up.
2- The second option is that let’s say you had many fasts to make up, like twenty, and you started on the 10th of Shawwal. So, once you finish the obligatory, you are going to be outside of Shawwal. So when are you going to do the six days of Shawwal? Well, what you would do there is that you would actually do the obligatory fasts, and then you would follow it up with six extra with the intention of it being Shawwal even though you are not in Shawwal.
3- The third option is that if you have many missed fasts, you can begin with the six days of Shawwal and you can make up the missed fasts later.
Understanding the Ruling on Passing in Front of a Praying Person
A person’s prayer is invalidated if a woman, donkey or black dog passes in front of him. It was reported from `Abd-Allah ibn al-Samit that Abu Dharr said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: ‘If any one of you stands up to pray, then he has a sutrah[an item placed in front of a praying person as a “screen”] if he has something the height of the back of a saddle in front of him. If he does not have something the height of the back of a saddle in front of him, then his prayer is invalidated if a donkey or a woman or a black dog passes in front of him.’” I [‘Abd-Allah] asked, “O Abu Dharr, what is the difference between a black dog and a red or yellow dog?” He said, “O son of my brother, I asked the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) the same question, and he said, ‘The black dog is a shaytan (devil).’” (Muslim)
The height of the back of a saddle is one cubit or 2/3 of a cubit.
Does This Rule Apply to Congregational Prayer?
But this ruling applies only when one of these three pass in front of the imam or a person who is praying on his own, not when they pass between the rows of a congregation praying behind the imam during prayer in congregation, as the sister who asked the question thinks.
The Evidence from Ibn Abbas’ Hadith
The evidence for that is the report in which ‘Abd-Allah ibn ‘Abbas said: “I came along riding on a female donkey one day when I had just reached the age of puberty. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was leading the people in prayer in Mina, without any kind of wall in front of him. I passed in front of part of the row, then I got down and sent the donkey to graze, and joined the row, and no one rebuked me for that.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Imam Al-Bukhari gave this hadith the heading of “Sutrat al-Imam sutrat man khalfahu (the sutrah of the imam is the sutrahof those behind him).” This hadith clearly proves our point, which is that the person who is praying behind the imam does not have to have a sutrah, and it does not matter what passes in front of him, especially since Ibn ‘Abbas passed in front of them with his donkey, which is one of the things which invalidates prayer if it passes in front of the imam or a person who is praying on his own.
Ibn `Abd al-Barr said:
This hadith – i.e., the hadith narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim from Abu Sa`eed al-Khudri which says “If any one of you is praying, he should not let anyone pass in front of him. Let him push him away as much as he can, and if he insists then let him fight him, for he is nothing but a shaytan (devil)” – indicates that it is makruh to pass in front of a person who is praying if he is praying on his own and without a sutrah. The same ruling applies to the imam if he is praying without a sutrah.
Does the Imam’s Sutrah Apply to the Whole Congregation?
But with regard to the person who is praying behind the imam, it does not matter what passes in front of him, just as it does not matter what passes in front of the imam or person praying alone if it passes behind the sutrah. The sutrah of the imam is also the sutrah of those who are praying behind him.
We say this concerning the imam and the person who prays alone, because the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “If any one of you is praying…” According to the scholars, this means praying on his own, because of the hadith of Ibn `Abbas. Hence we say that the person who is praying behind the imam does not have to push away the person who passes in front of him, because Ibn ‘Abbas said: “I came along riding on a female donkey one day when I had just reached the age of puberty. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was leading the people in prayer in Mina, without any kind of wall in front of him. I passed in front of part of the row, then I got down and sent the donkey to graze, and joined the row, and no one rebuked me for that.” (Al-Tamheed, 4/187)
Does a Woman Walking in Front Break the Prayer?
On this basis, the sister who asked this question, and other people, do not have to push away anyone who passes in front of them if they are praying behind the imam, and there is no sin on the person who passes in front of the row if this is done for a reason. Pushing a person away and preventing them from passing in front is to be done by the imam or the person who is praying alone, if a person wants to pass between him and his sutrah.
Ramadan is over, yes. But there’s still a chance that you could gain more rewards even after Ramadan, and that is by fasting 6 days of Shawwal. And guess what, if you do it, it’s considered a sign of an accepted Ramadan! Watch the video for more information. - aboutislam.net
Let us quickly review the background of the chant you mentioned; it is called Takbir of Eid.
Eid means an Islamic, public celebration.
Such celebrations occur twice a year. Each time following the completion of one of the five pillars of Islam.
The first, Eid al-Fitr, marks the completion of fasting the blessed month of Ramadan, the fourth pillar of Islam.
The second, Eid al-Adha, marks the completion of Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah), the fifth pillar of Islam.
According to the Sunnah (tradition) of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) everyone is urged to attend Eid Prayer—men, women, and children.
A Day of Joy & Gratitude
During Eid, Muslims express their gratitude to Allah for enabling them to observe the major acts of worship preceding each Eid.
And they also visibly show joy and congratulate each other.
Therefore, Eid is a day of joy, thanksgiving to Allah, brotherhood, and unity.
Muslims have no public celebrations apart from Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said what means:
[…] Every nation has its festival, and this is your festival. (Al-Bukhari)
Also, the time for Eid Prayer is when the sun has risen about three meters (10 feet) above the horizon.
Eid Prayers cannot be said after midday. It is better to hold Eid Prayers in the open if there is no rain or bad weather.
The Prophet never performed Eid Prayers in the mosque except once due to rain.
There is neither Adhan (call to prayer) nor Iqamah (second call to prayer) called for these prayers.
After performing prayer, the imam delivers a khutbah (sermon, speech) just like Friday khutbah.
Some of the Good Manners of Eid
It was reported that Sa`id ibn Jubayr said,
Three things are Sunnah (prophetic traditions, preferred to be followed by Muslims) on Eid: to walk (to the place of prayer), to take a bath, and to eat before coming out (if it’s Eid al-Fitr).
People should exchange greetings on Eid. They walk to prayer wearing their best clothes and change their route on returning.
Additionally, it is also considered good Islamic practice to visit one another and exchange gifts. (Editor’s Note: Please maintain social distancing while you meet, due to the COVID-19 pandemic)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
Exchange gifts in order to foster love. (Al-Bukhari in his book Al-Adab Al-Mufrad)
It is recommended to make lots of istighfar (asking Allah for forgiveness) and pray that Allah accepts our fast, pilgrimage (after Eid ul Adha), prayers, and devotion, and grant the Muslim nation glory and success.
Eid Takbir
The loud chanting of Takbir of Eid is one of the greatest Sunnahs of this day. It brings us to your question of the meaning of the Takbir.
The transmitted wording of takbir is: “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, la Ilahailla Allah; Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, walillah al-hamd“.
Additionally, there are other forms used by the Prophet’s Companions and reported to us from trusted chains of transmission.
They are generally combinations of the expressions below. These are the most respected forms of praise and exaltation to Allah in Prophetic traditions.
They are to be recited loudly and in unison by everyone attending Eid Prayer. And everyone on their way there. This show of power enforces the feeling of unity and solidarity and declares the joy of Eid to all.
Meanings of Expressions Used
Allahu Akbar: This statement is said by Muslims numerous times. It means “Allah is the Greatest”. Muslims praise Allah in every aspect of life, and as such, they say “Allahu Akbar” as they proceed to Eid Prayer.
La ilaha illa llah: This expression is the most important one in Islam. It is the declaration of faith that every person has to announce to be considered a Muslim. It is part of the first pillar of Islam.
And this means, “There is no god worthy of worship except Allah.” The second part of this declaration means, “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”
Al-hamdu lillah: This means, “all praise be to Allah” and is said as an expression of thanks and gratitude to Allah. A Muslim (a person who chooses to surrender peacefully to the Creator) invokes the praises of Allah when he finishes any work, thanking Allah for His favors.
A Muslim is grateful to Allah for all His blessings. It is a statement of thanks, appreciation, and gratitude from the creature to his Creator.
Subhan Allah: This means: “Allah is Exalted. Glory be to Allah. Far removed is He from anything imperfect associated with Him and from anything unsuitably ascribed to Him.”
Also, it is an expression that Muslims use to express wonder, exclamation, or surprise.
It is also an expression of respect for Allah.
More Expressions
Allahumma salli `ala Muhammad: This means “may the blessings and the peace of Allah be upon Muhammad.” It is an expression that Muslims use whenever the name of Prophet Muhammad is mentioned or written.
In the Quran, Allah has ordered Muslims to say such an expression. This reflects the Muslim’s love and affection towards the Last Prophet, who carried the burden of conveying the last divine message to mankind.
Allahu Akbaru Kabeera: This means that God is Greater than everything that exists and the term “kabeera” is a superlative form of the same meaning. This expression is simply an emphasis on the greatness of the Creator.
Al hamdu lillahi katheera: This is also an expression of emphasis on the gratitude of the Muslims towards their Creator. Its meaning is: “high gratefulness and thankfulness is to be to Allah, the Creator.”
It is strongly recommended to repeat in a loud voice Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illa Allah, Allahu Akbar wa lillahi-l-hamd after every congregational prayer on the days and nights of Eid.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Every nation has its festival, and this is your festival.” Here, he referred to the fact that these two Eids are exclusively for the Muslims.
The Muslims have no festivals apart from Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allah came to Madinah, the people of Madinah used to have two festivals.
On those two days, they had carnivals and festivity. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) asked the Ansar (the Muslims of Madinah) about it.
They replied that before Islam, they used to have carnivals on those two joyous days. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) told them, “Instead of those two days, Allah has appointed two other days which are better, the days of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.” (Abu Dawud)
These two Eids are among the signs of Allah, to which we must show consideration and understand their objectives. Below, we will elaborate the rulings and etiquette of Eid.
Rulings of Eid
1- Fasting: It is haram to fast on the days of Eid because of the hadith of Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) in which he said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade fasting on the day of Fitr and the day of Adha. (Muslim)
2- Offering Eid Prayers: Some of the scholars say that Eid Prayers are obligatory – this is the view of the Hanafi scholars and of Ibn Taymiyyah. Some scholars say that Eid Prayer is Fard Kifayah (a communal duty, binding on the Muslims as a group, and it is fulfilled if a sufficient number of people perform it, thereby absolving the rest of sin). This is the view of the Hanbalis. A third group says that Eid Prayer is Sunnah Mu’akkadah (confirmed sunnah). This is the view of the Malikis and Shafi`is.
3-Offering Supererogatory Prayers: There are no Supererogatory Prayers to be offered either before or after the Eid Prayer, as Ibn `Abbas reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to come out on the day of Eid and pray two rak`ahs, with nothing before or after them. This is the case if the Prayer is offered in an open area. If, however, the people pray the Eid Prayer in a mosque, then they should pray two rak`ahs for Tahiyat Al-Masjid.
4- Women attending the Eid Prayers:According to the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), everyone is urged to attend EidPrayer, and to co-operate with one another in righteousness and piety. The menstruating woman should not forsake the remembrance of Allah or places of goodness such as gatherings for the purpose of seeking knowledge and remembering Allah – apart from mosques. Women, undoubtedly, should not go out without the Hijab.
Etiquettes of Eid
1- Ghusl (taking a bath): One of the good manners of Eid is to take a bath before going out to the Prayer. It was reported that Sa`id ibn Jubayr said: “Three things are Sunnah on Eid: to walk (to the prayer-place), to take a bath, and to eat before coming out (if it’s Eid al-Fitr).”
2- Eating before coming out: One should not come out to the prayer-place on Eid al-Fitr before eating some dates, because of the hadith narrated by Al-Bukhari from Anas ibn Malik who said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would not go out in the morning of Eid al-Fitruntil he had eaten some dates… and he would eat an odd number.” On Eid al-Adha, on the other hand, it is recommended not to eat until after the Prayer, when one should eat from the meat of one’s sacrifice.
3- Takbir on the day of Eid:This is one of the greatest Sunnahs of this day. Al-Daraqutni and others reported that when Ibn `Umar came out on Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, he would strive hard in making Takbir until he reached the prayer-place, then he would continue making Takbir until the Imam came.
4- Congratulating one another:People may exchange congratulations and good greetings on Eid, no matter what form the words take. For example, they may say to one another, “Taqabbal Allahu minnaa wa minkum (May Allah accept, from us and from you, our good deeds!)”.
Jubayr ibn Nufayr said: “At the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when people met one another on the day of Eid, they would say, ‘Taqabbal Allahu minnaa wa minka.’” (Ibn Hajar)
5- Wearing one’s best clothes for Eid: Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had a Jubbah (cloak) that he would wear on Eid and on Fridays.” Al-Bayhaqi reported that Ibn `Umar used to wear his best clothes on Eid, so men should wear the best clothes they have when they go out for Eid.
6- Changing route on returning from Prayer-place: Jabir ibn `Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to change his routes on the day of Eid. (Al-Bukhari)
Allah Almighty knows best.
Source:Excerpted, with slight modifications, from, www.islamqa.info
The Quran and hadith offer Prophetic guidance regarding the disbursal of our charity and zakat in person, not by proxy.
This enables us to better understand the people we’re helping, know how the money is being put to use, and offer more than just cash.
It’s important to have conversations with those we’re aiming to help, for us to learn more about their condition.
What They Really Need
When we speak with those in need of our support, we learn about their lives and struggles.
Through, a two-minute conversation with a stranger, I often uncovered other less superficial ways to assist.
Perhaps they’re having a hard time with some paperwork or documentation.
Maybe they need a ride to an important health or court appointment.
Perhaps they need a new pair of glasses, bedding, diapers, or clothes for their child, or any other item that is within our budget and means to give.
I was once homeless for a short stretch. When I finally moved into my new apartment with the help of a local homelessness relocation program, I owned next to nothing.
I brought with me a laptop, a few suitcases of personal items, and an inflatable air mattress.
I moved in the winter, so it was crucial that I get some type of home put together for my children and I fast.
However, not a single soul stepped forward to offer me cash.
Instead, they followed Quranic guidance and offered me dishes, cutlery, bedding, used clothing, children’s books, toys, and even some pantry staples.
These ready-to-use items were perfect. I was unable to drive around town and hunt down affordable items.
I had too many other pressing issues like prenatal, and court appointments, demanding my time.
In that moment, their charity was in their gifted belongings, which I accepted with humbled gratitude.
I also have a friend who is a beautician and a hairstylist. She’s trained in more than one discipline and also on various continents.
A Real-Life Story
She’s also known for hardship – which makes her very attuned to others in need.
Recently, she set out to offer free haircuts on weekends to homeless men and women in a downtown park.
Her aim was only to make their lives a little cleaner, fresher, and easier by offering what she could of herself and her expertise to these men and women in need.
However, what she soon discovered, after talking to them throughout their haircuts, is that they needed much more than just one-time grooming.
They needed socks, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soaps, Tylenol, and other toiletries.
She used social media and word of mouth to reach out to others in her circle. She pooled her personal resources along with donations from family and friends.
Together, they put together dozens of well-stocked kits.
When she went back the next time for her usual weekend haircut, she came bearing simple gifts: gifts that were both appropriate and well received.
She took the time to get to know those she was aiming to help.
She learned the depth of their struggles and all the other ways that she, and her friends, could give.
What the Prophet (Pbuh) Did
What she did was guided by her faith, because we have a very similar example from the life of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
Our Prophet did not condone or encourage beggary as a routine source of income.
However, we are not, as Muslims, supposed to be harsh with beggars either.
As Muslims, our aim is to gently discourage begging and assist others in becoming self-sufficient instead.
In one narration, a man approached Prophet Muhammad begging for money. Prophet Mohammed asked the beggar to instead bring him the belongings that he kept at home.
The man brought back a cloth and a cup. Next the Prophet Mohammed auctioned off the belongings amongst his companions and earned two durham (more than double what the items were probably worth).
He told the man to keep half of the money for his home and family expenses and spend the other half on an axe head.
When the man returned, Prophet Muhammad fashioned the axe head to the handle himself.
He told the man to go cut wood with the axe to sell at the local market and not come back for two weeks.
The man did as he was told. When he returned later, he had earned 10 durhams, and used the money to buy a new blanket and food.
He was also well on his way to earning halal income and achieving financial independence. [Hadith source: Sunan Abu Dawud 1641]
This story teaches a valuable lesson. Except for the rare cases where people are in severe poverty, severe debt, or are too sick or injured to work, we all need a hand up instead of a handout.
When we’re stuck in poverty, it becomes very difficult to see the way out.
Researchers have even observed that poverty changes us in fundamental ways that make it next to impossible to think clearly, resulting in a circular cycle of defeats.
Those outside that spiral can offer valuable advice in the form of guidance, training, and volunteered time – directing the needy out of their poverty and problems.
Prophet Muhammad made a proud man out of a beggar.
He showed him how to cut wood and earn halal stable income for his family expenses instead of begging hand to mouth every day.
As you set out to give for charity and zakat, consider making an extra effort to get to know those you’re helping on a personal level.
Reach out to families directly. Get to know their stories.
Connect them with other people and services. Get them job training, pro-bono legal, medical, and dental work, or just listen to their stories.
Perhaps a listening ear is all they really want and need.
Often, we prefer to hand over a few bucks and look the other way, thinking we’ve done enough.
Instead, the best help is often a hard lift up over the wall of defeat.
