Question:
Assalamu‘alaikum SS Dato’ Mufti. What are the advantages of enlivening the night of Eid?
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam wbt,
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Eidulfitri is a blessing from Allah SWT for His believing and obedient slaves. It is an acknowledgement for those who have absolute obedience towards Allah SWT.
This great day is celebrated after the completion of the worship of fasting in the month of Ramadhan. Thus, Eid is a day when we break our fast where it is now permissible what has been prohibited for us during the day in Ramadhan such as eating, drinking and be with one’s wife.
This is the day where the Muslims are celebrating and happy, for they are successful in their completion of their worship and obedience towards Allah SWT in the month of Ramadhan. Allah SWT states:
قُلْ بِفَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَبِرَحْمَتِهِ فَبِذَلِكَ فَلْيَفْرَحُوا هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ
“Say, "In the bounty of Allah and in His mercy - in that let them rejoice; it is better than what they accumulate.”
Surah Yunus (58)
There are numerous evidences that encourage us to enliven the night of Eid, for in it are blessings from Allah SWT. Hence, be happy on the night of Eid with praises and thanks towards the greatness of Allah with takbir, for surely, there are advantages.
Here, we include two things that are encouraged on the night of Eid other than paying zakat.
- Enliven the night of Eid with qiamullail. This is in accordance with the hadith from Abu Umamah, where the Prophet PBUH said:
مَنْ قَامَ لَيْلَةَ الْعِيدِ مُحْتَسِبًا لَمْ يَمُتْ قَلْبُهُ يَومَ تَمُوتُ الْقُلُوبُ
“Whoever spends the nights of the two ‘Eid in praying voluntary prayers, seeking reward from Allah, his heart will not die on the Day when hearts will die.”
Sunan Ibn Majah (1854)
- Takbir on the night and day of Eid until the Eid prayer. This is based on the hadith from Anas, the Prophet PBUH said:
زَيَّنُوْا أَعْيَادَكُمْ بِالتَّكْبِيرِ
“Adorn your Eid with takbir.”
Sunan al-Tabarani
- Tahlil, takbir, tahmid and taqdis. This is in line with the hadith from Anas, where the Prophet PBUH said:
زَيِّنُوا الْعِيْدَيْنِ بِالتَّهْلِيْلِ وَالتَّكْبِيْرِ وَالتَّحْمِيْدِ وَالتَّقْدِيْسِ
“Adorn your two days of celebration (Eid) with tahlil, takbir, tahmid and taqdis.”
Narrated by Abu Nuaim
According to the above hadiths, among the worships and good deeds that can be done on the night and day of Eid are as the following:
- Qiamullail
- Supplication to Allah SWT
- Takbir (الله أكبر)
- Tahlil (لا إله إلا الله)
- Tahmid (الحمد لله)
- Tasbih (سبحان الله)
Eid is known as a gift or al-Jawaiz, according to a weak (dhaif) hadith, Imam al-Zuhri said: “During Eidulfitri, people went out to The Great God, thus, Allah see their actions and said: O My slaves, you fast and perform qiamullail for Me, go back in My forgiveness.”
Mauriq al-Ijli said to his friends on Eidulfitri: “Today you return as if you are just born.” This is also the words of Abu Ja’far al-Baqir and numerous scholars.