EID AND OBSERVANCE OF THE SUNNAH
Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:
“He who adheres to my Sunnah at the time of the corruption of my Ummah will receive the reward of a hundred Shuhada (Martyrs).”
The happy occasion of Eid is also a Day of Ibaadat. In fact the Nights of Eid are on par with Lailatul Qadr or even greater. It is stated in the Hadith that the one who sins on the Day of Eid is like one who sins on the Day of Qiyaamah.
People are aware of acts which are glaringly sinful, hence they generally abstain. However, among the worse sins which Iblees has adorned and presented in the form of ‘ibaadat’ is bid’ah (innovation). An act/deed which is not countenanced by the Shariah but which is presented as if it is an act of merit/worship is an evil bid’ah. Bid’ah displaces the Sunnah, hence Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said that the one who adheres to the Sunnah, especially at the time when the Ummah has abandoned the Sunnah, will receive a reward equivalent to the reward of a hundred Martyrs.
Regarding the evil of bid’ah, Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:
“Allah deprives every person of bid’ah from making Taubah.”
Since the one who commits bid’ah believes that he is indulging in an act of ibaadat, he does not gain the taufeeq and understanding for repenting. He thus remains constantly under the Wrath of Allah Ta’ala.
On the Day of Eid, besides the sins which people commit, they commence the Day with the sin of Bid’ah from the very moment the Eid Khutbah ends. And, the sin of bid’ah is committed right at the Eidgah or the Musjid where the Eid Salaat was performed. Immediately after the Eid Khutbah it will be seen that the musallis indulge irrationally in the bid’ah of handshaking, hugging and ‘eid mubaarak’ greetings.
It should be understood that Eid is not a new occasion, and the Eid Salaat is not an act which we have acquired in these days. Eid existed since the time of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and the Sahaabah. They all performed Eid and showed the Ummah how we have to acquit ourselves on this auspicious day. Neither did the Sahaabah hug or handshake after Eid Salaat. After the Eid Khutbah they silently, with dignity, dispersed to their homes. There was no raucous behaviour as Muslims are perpetrating nowadays.
Immediately after the Khutbah, people become boisterous and acquit themselves in total conflict of the Sunnah. They behave boisterously not only at the Eidgah, but also right inside the Musjid should the Eid Salaat be performed at the Musjid. As the Imaam dismounts from the mimbar, the musallis, making a mockery of themselves and of the Deen, spring up to indulge in the bid’ah of handshaking and the bid’ah of hugging and embracing. Without any regard for the sanctity of the House of Allah, they transform the Musjid into a flea market with the noise they churn up.
While handshaking (musaafahah) and embracing (mu-aanakah) are Sunnat, the occasion and the mannerism adopted by the people transform these acts into bid’ah. The Sunnah does not advocate handshaking and embracing after Eid Salaat nor on Eid Day. Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) has provided a list of Masnoon acts for Eid Day. This Sunnah list does not have handshaking and embracing as acts to be observed on the Day of Eid.
It is not permissible to display happiness in ways which are in conflict with the Sunnah. It is a major sin to create a noise in the Musjid and to engage in worldly talk and to exchange niceties and greetings inside the Musjid. Hadhrat Umar (radhiyallahu anhu) would utilize his whip to drive such offenders from the Musjid. Hadhrat Nabi Isaa (alayhis salaam) used his shawl as a ‘whip’ to chase from the Musjid those who engaged in conversation. The Musjid is not the venue for such acts. After the Eid Khutbah, adopt the way of the Sahaabah. Get up with dignity and walk silently out of the Musjid. Do not behave like a crowd leaving a kuffaar sportsfield after a match. Respect the House of Allah Ta’ala. Respect the Deen and observe the Sunnah, and you will earn the reward of a hundred Martyrs, and also the Pleasure of Allah Ta’ala.
May Allah Ta’ala grant you the taufeeq to set your pride aside and to humble yourself at the altar of the Sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).
23 Ramadhaan 1436 (10 July 2015)