BaKhabar, October 2012, Page-6 [Eid Prayers: As the Prophet (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) prayed ... a simple guide + Why are they targeting Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)? ]

Eid Prayers: As the Prophet (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) prayed ... a simple guide

... Adapted from Islam Q&A

Praise be to Allaah.

A. Place of Eid Prayers: The Prophet (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) used to offer the Eid prayers in the prayer-place (Eid-Musalla). There is no report of his offering the Eid prayer in his mosque. Al-Shaafa’i said in al-Umm: It was narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) used to go out on the two Eids to the Eid prayer-place in Madeenah, as did those (caliphs) who came after him, unless there was an excuse such as rain etc. The people of other lands did likewise, apart from the people of Makkah.

B. The Attire for the Occasion: He used to do ghusl (bath) before going out on the day of Eid. He used to wear his most beautiful garments to go out to pray. He had a suit (hullah- two-piece suit of the same kind of fabric) which he would wear for Eid and Jumu’ah (Friday prayer).

C. Break Fast with Meat of Sacrificed Animal: On Eid al-Adha, the Prophet (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) would not eat anything until he came back from the prayer-place, then he would eat some of the meat of his sacrifice.

Haram Sharif, Makkah

D. Go for Eid Prayer Walking, not Riding: And he (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) used to go out to the Eid prayer walking, and come back walking. [Ibn Maajah (1295) from Ibn ‘Umar, and Tirmidhi (530) from ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib] It is mustahabb for us not to ride unless we have an excuse.

E. No Ahaan (Azaan) or Iqama before Eid Prayer: When the Prophet (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) reached the prayer-place, he would begin the prayer with no adhaan or iqaamah, and without saying “Al-salaatu jaami’ah (prayer is about to begin).” The Sunnah is not to do any of these things. And he did not offer any prayer in the prayer-place before or after the Eid prayer.

F. The Eid Prayer’s Format: The Prophet (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) would start with the prayer, before the khutbah. He prayed two rak’ahs, with seven consecutive takbeers in the first rak’ah, including takbeerat al-ihraam (the takbeer with which the prayer begins), and a brief pause between each two takbeers. Ibn ‘Umar Razi Allaho Anhu, used to raise his hands with each takbeer.

When he had completed the takbeers, he would start to recite. He would recite al-Faatihah then recite Soorah Qaaf in the first rak’ah and Soorat al-Qamar in the other. Sometimes he recited Soorat al-A’laa and Soorat al-Ghaashiyah. Both were narrated in saheeh reports, but no other soorahs are mentioned in saheeh reports. When he had finished reciting he would say takbeer and bow. When he had finished bowing and prostrating and had stood up again, he would say five takbeers. When he had completed the takbeers he would start to recite again. The takbeer was the first thing that he would do in each rak’ah and his recitation was followed by rukoo’ (bowing). [Timridhi]

Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco

G. Khutba after the Eid Prayer: When the Prophet (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) had finished the prayer, he would move away and stand facing the people, with the people sitting in their rows, and he would address them, preaching and exhorting, with commands and prohibitions. If he wanted to dispatch anyone on a mission he would do so, and if he wanted to enjoin anything he would do that. There was no minbar on which he would stand, and the minbar of Madeenah was not brought out. Rather he would address them standing on the ground.
The Prophet (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) started all his khutbahs with praise of Allaah. It is not narrated even in one hadeeth that he started the khutbah of Eid with takbeer.

H. Listening to Khutba is Optional: The Prophet (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) granted a concession allowing those who attended the Eid prayers either to sit and listen to the khutbah, or to leave. [Abu Dawood (1155) narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn al-Saa’ib, classed as saheeh by al-Albaani]

I. Different Routes to and from the Eid Prayer Ground: The Prophet (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) used to vary his route on the day of Eid. He would go by one route and come back by another. Bukhari (986) from Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah]

Why are they targeting Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)?

... By Mohammad Allam, Aligarh (mohammad_allam@rediffmail.com)

(O Muhammad!) We have sent you to be a real (blessing and) mercy (of Allah) for the people of the entire world. [Quran, 21:107]
Say: "O my Lord! judge Thou in truth!" "Our Lord Most Gracious is the One Whose assistance should be sought against the blasphemies ye utter!" [Quran, 21:112]

It were first the orientalists (those having authority on Eastern culture and religion), who tried to vulcanize the sanctity of the religion of Islam by raising non-sense issues like the sacredness of the Holy Quran, the revelation of Quran by Allah Rabbul Alameen through Hazrat Gabriel, the character of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), the problem of Jews, the teachings of Islam, the status of women in Islam spreading of Islam in the world, Jihad (Holy Wars) etc. These orientalists first tried to create suspicion about Islam by raising questions and attacking on the character of Holy Prophet (PBUH). Among these orientalists are John of Damascus, David Hume, Sir William Muir, John Esposito, William Montgomery Watt, Karen Arm Strong etc. Undoubtedly, they succeeded in doing so by creating a class of Muslim and non-Muslim writers in modern times who are attacking Islam from all sides. The western scholarship and their method of literary criticism are sharp weapons by which they are maligning Islam. The so called secularist, extra-nationalist and comrade (communist Muslims) are helping them by presenting themselves modern and immune from love of religion; cited by the enemies of Islam as role model for the rest of Muslims and Muslim society.
Among them are the prominent figures migrated from South-Asian nations like V.S Naipaul (Beyond Belief), Salman Rushdie (SATANIC VERSES), Taslima Nasreen(LAJJA) etc. These writers are attacking Islam just to appease their western masters. The attacks by Muslim writers have devastating impact on the mentality of non-Muslim about the image of Islam. But from the time of the orientalists to present day, why has the character of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) been targeted?
With the advent of Islam in 7th century, the two other faiths- Jews and Christian lost their prominence. They did not accept Islam as Divine religion. From the very beginning they targeted Islam, particularly the Prophet (PBUH). Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) has been centralized in Islam by Allah Rabbul Alameen. No Mohammad (PBUH), no Islam. If the character of Prophet is tarnished, then the whole system of Islam like revelation of the Quran, Hadith and tenants of Islam automatically would be tarnished. That’s why from the very beginning they tried to tarnish the character of Prophet but failed miserably.
The defeat in crusade by Muslims in Medieval Age is still haunting the minds of the European scholars. In present time the rising demographic scale of Muslims in Europe and America-the traditional power houses of Christendom and Jewsdom world has frightened them. So, to stop Islam and tarnish its image in an era of multicultural world the enemies of Islam have started onslaught on the character of Prophet (PBUH) freshly in disguise of freedom of speech and power of reasoning.

Nationalism was the mantra of Unity for European world whereas Islamic nations have been divided on the basis of races like Turkish, Arab, Iranian, etc from sixteenth century. Nationalism destroyed the very fabric of the Western civilization in two World Wars in which millions of people were killed but it lost the utility. The disunity among the European nations forced the European scholars to look for an “ism” to be a source of unity. The Red danger (the communism) declared as enemy and also became a source of unity as the whole west was united against this menace in blanket of cold war. The end of Communism and fall of Russia again created the problem for the European unity (the Balkan war of 1990 onwards) and hegemony. So, to maintain the unity and hegemony of the West (Europe and America), the Islam was targeted from 1990. The thesis of clashes of civilization was coined by Huntington and Green Zone was declared as a potential threat to the hegemony of west. The ally against Red Danger turned into enemy and enmity was started with an invasion in Iraq. The story of nuclear weapon was cooked; the concept of terrorism was coined and wars were started to give access to Islamic world to American and European forces. The legalization of action against terrorism by UNO even with violation of sovereignty was accepted. To continue this, trend of terrorism, presence of the western army in Islamic nations, unity of the west in defaming Islam to stop it from rising in the west, the attacks on Islam have been continuing systematically for the last 30 years.
The present episode is another design to create anarchy in the Islamic nations by bringing people and the government into clash. The Government would provide the safety to the western nation as an obligation of Geneva Convention while the people who protest against the insult of Islam and Prophet. This would turn into violence and no peace in Islamic world. While the west will not take any action against the culprit in the name of freedom of speech granted to them by the constitution of the nation e.g. the case of America. No peace means no progress in Islamic world. On the other hand it will also provide an opportunity to the west to send forces to Islamic world in the name of rising fundamentalism and terrorism.
So, the duties of the Islamic Governments and Muslims around the world are to understand the design of the conspirators. Who wants that there should be a clash of Islamic and Christian world? Who are the people using the Right of freedom of speech to defame Islam? Who are the people who want anarchy in Islamic world? Who are the people who will get a chance to promote their vested interest? Who are the people who want to bring people and government into clash?
And then the government and the people should choke out a policy to counter these designs. Let it be clear, to the west that there would be no compromise on the honor of Prophet and Islam. If Islam and the Prophet are targeted then there would be no protection to the economic and political interest of any nations in Islamic world. Either you choose to be with the attacker of Islam or with us.
The reaction of Muslims should be more economic oriented. Who are the people who are doing the work of character assassination of Prophet? For them there should be no market of Islamic nations. Ban their companies, goods and services in Islamic nations. After rise of China and India, the markets of Muslim nations are very much important for the west. The ongoing financial crisis in the west is nothing but loss of market to other emerging powers of the world like China, India and Brazil etc. Also have a look on all those companies and ban them which have any relation with the culprits. Allah Rabbul Alameen is Khairur Razeqeen and not these companies.
This is good that Muslims around the world are showing their Islamic spirit of Imaan. The Muslims around world must understand that they have to show love for the Prophet ( PBUH) to prove themselves Muslims. Many verses of Holy Quran and Ahaadith remind Muslims about the love for Prophet. But too much undue reaction should not lead FITNA and Fasad in Islamic world. The Muslims should not be like the western people who have lost every love for their religion and Prophet Jesus Christ (PBUH). For example in many countries of the West the denial of HOLOCAUST is a crime but denial of God, making fun of Jesus Christ (PBUH) and Bible are not crime. Muslims around the world should act wisely and cautiously. So, the interest of Islam and Muslim nations along with their friends do not jeopardize.