'Eid-ul-Fitr' Sermon 2014

Ramadan has come to an end for this year. But the good deeds that we have been doing during the month of Ramadan must not end; it must continue till the next Ramadan. Fasting is the essence of all worship and it enables man to accomplish all his obligations towards others and also to Allah in a perfect manner.

During the Ramadan, the members of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam have elevated their level of prayers (Salat/Namaz) as well as getting up early to partake of the Sehri to start their fast. Likewise, this practice must continue, whereby we get up early for the Tahajjud, perform the Salat-ul-Fajr on time and delve in the recitation of the Holy Quran in the morning which is specially rewarding in terms of blessings.

Unfortunately, for those still alive and have got the opportunity to live this blessed month, but who have not reaped any profit/benefit and have not received any divine blessing, then let them bear in mind that their lives have gone to waste when they do not observe that blessed month as it should be done. Furthermore, how can they be happy today, Eid Day when they have let these exceptional days slip out of their hands? When the fast is neglected for no valid reason, this is verily a serious matter (a failure on the part of Muslims). How can these people be happy today when they have not established all the acts of worship in Ramadan like it should have been?

Therefore, each person who says that he believes (in Allah and all tenets of Islam), that he is a believer, therefore he must put into practice all good intentions that he holds, and he must absolutely not miss to seek the divine blessings during the month of Ramadan. To this end he must supplicate Allah in such a way that all in heavens can hear also, and whereby the angels diffuse these supplications throughout the entire world.

Eid Day is for those who have spent a month in the obedience of Allah; they have shunned all that was not permissible for them; they left all, showing their love, and obedience only to Allah. For those who have submitted totally to Him, and have spent the month in sacrifice for the sake of Allah, then Almighty Allah gives them an Eid Day; a day of joy for those who spent the blessed month in the obedience of Allah the Almighty.

Eid Day: An Incident from the life of the Holy Prophet (sa)

I now relate to you an incident from the times of the Holy Prophet (pbuh), on the day of Eid itself. The believers, early in the morning all prepared actively for the day and joy overcame Madina. At the approach prayer time (the Eid prayer), young and old all rushed to the Mosque clothed in the best clothes (they could afford). As in the nature of children, the latter loves to wear new clothes.

After Eid prayer, the children went to play cheerfully. When the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) came out from the Mosque, he saw a boy crying alone in a corner in silence. Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) approached him and put his hand on his shoulder and asked the boy: 

“Why are you crying my boy?”

The boy without lifting up his head to know who was talking to him, angrily say: “Leave me alone.” 

Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) put his hand in his hair and calmly said: “Tell me what happened to you”, and then the boy put his head in between his knees and cried. 

He then said: “My father has died (martyred) in the battle along with the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). My mother remarried and when I went to her place, the husband pushed me away and someone stole my wealth (inheritance). Today the other boys are happy and are enjoying themselves with new clothes and look at me, I have not eaten anything, I don’t know where to go and I do not have any place to live.”

Then the Holy Prophet (pbuh) told the boy: “If I were to become your father, Aisha your mother and Fatima your sister, would you be pleased my boy?” 

The child was very happy, and then the Holy Prophet (pbuh) took him to his place and Hazrat Aisha (ra) took him to take a bath and then gave him something to eat and told him to go out to play with the other children and to return back to her place for from this day on, it would be his home.

The boy went outside to play, and afterwards return back to Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) with joy and happiness. All the other children were amazed at the transformation of that boy and they asked him questions to that effect and therefore he related them in detail what had happened. Seeing the good fortune of the boy, some of these children even said quietly that they wished that their fathers were dead like the boy (so that they could be as blessed as the boy to have the Holy Prophet (pbuh) as father).

Therefore the lesson that we learn from this incident is that good deeds exist in all forms, and there are lots of opportunities and moments for each believer to do good around him. Man has in him compassion, and he tries to share it with others. 

Our beloved prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) was the best of men, and he set an example of wisdom, tact, sensibility and generosity when he took an orphan under his protection on Eid day, for who knew better than him the suffering which losing one’s parents entails? Who knew suffering more than him? Therefore, one who gives refuge to an orphan or he accomplishes good deeds which shall incur the pleasure of Allah, therefore this brings us to what is truly the identity of a Muslim, where he has to become a small representation of his role model Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh).

Eid-ul-Fitr: Early Accounts

Now, let us see how Eid-ul-Fitr was first celebrated in Islam! The first Ramadan was observed in the second year of Hegira and it was during the course of that same Ramadan that the Muslims fought against the Quraish in Islam’s first victorious battle, that is, the battle of Badr. A true Muslim must not also forget all the massacres and bloodshed which happened in that battle.

Concerning the Eid of the first Muslims, it has been mentioned in the Hadiths that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) was so tired that he had to lean on Hazrat Bilal (ra) to stand up and pronounce his sermon. Some days before the celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr, Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) announced the Sadaqat-ul-Fitr, which became obligatory on each Muslim, and he announced also the Fitrana, in which the companions contributed generously. The money received was distributed to the poor before and also after the Eid celebrations. 

According to Hazrat Jabir bin Abdullah (ra), in his sermon the Holy Prophet (pbuh) put much emphasis on the glory and praise of Allah. Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) praised Allah in a special and extraordinary way.

In another Hadith reported by Jabir (ra) concerning the way things turned out to be on Eid, he reported that on Eid day they were with the Holy Prophet (pbuh) and that before the sermon, he performed two cycles of prayers whereby there was no Azan and no Iqamat. After the prayer with the support of Hazrat Bilal (ra) he exhorted the believers to have taqwa (fear of Allah, piety) and afterward went with his help to the ladies’ side to address them some advice. 

It is mentioned in Hadith Muslim and Bukhari how Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) celebrated his Eid. Hazrat Aisha (ra) said that one Eid day the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was at her place and there were two girls who were singing and also playing music. The Holy Prophet (pbuh) was lying down on the bed and turned his face on the other side. Then came in Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) who asked Hazrat Aisha (ra) how she could have had the nerve to let satanic music be played in the presence of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)! Therefore Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) told Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra): ‘Let them, today is Eid’. Hazrat Aisha (ra) was not expecting that her father would come in at that time, and afterwards she signalled to the two girls to go. 

This incident is mentioned differently in another Hadith where it is narrated that Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) made Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) understand that each people (of Muslims) has a particular way of celebrating Eid. – Therefore, we must respect and not act in such a way to belittle them.

Before I end my sermon, an advice for all our Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam members: The true Eid is when we share our joy with others in pain, and we also have to protect ourselves and always stick on the right path and always strive to make EID MUBARAK happen for one and all, Insha-Allah.

Yéhi hé tamannaa yéhi arzoo hé yehi to sounaané ko jee chaahtaa hé, Eid Mubarak.This is my ardent wish and will, to share with you Eid Mubarak.

Special Prayers on the occasion

Oh Allah, grant us your blessings wherever we are, and in that moment of joy there is also a profound sadness for our brothers, sisters and children of Palestine and the other Muslim countries who are undergoing extreme sufferings in the hands of those (section of the) disbelievers who want to exterminate Islam, and establish their own law because they take Islam as a menace and as a religion of terrorism. Oh Allah, come to the help of the body of the Muslims, of Islam and consolidate the members of our body and heal us so that we may stand in good physical, moral and spiritual health for the reestablishment of the glory of Islam in the four corners of the world, Ameen.

Oh Allah, guide the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam (my sincere followers) towards the accomplishment of good deeds, and (Oh Allah) grant us our desires and expectations. Illuminate our hearts with Your light, and let each of the members of our body follow in its manifestation/effect through Your light. Open for us the doors of the heavens and shut the doors of hell, and help us to reap (and recite) the Quran.

Oh Allah, show us the path to obtain Your pleasure; do not let Satan gain any means upon us. We beseech You for what pleases You, and we seek refuge in You. I ask You to grant us the opportunity to obey You and not to disobey You.

Oh Allah, count us among those who love Your friends, and hate Your enemies. Change our difficulties into facility.

Oh Allah, purify us from all impurities and filth. Enable us to be patient on events and grant us the capacity to be pious and preserve us, Oh Allah from lies, backbiting, hostility, rancour, evils, arrogance, jealousy, fights and chaos. And protect us against the Dajjal and its fitna, Satan from his evils and (protect us also) from our material (temporal) desires.

Oh Allah! Give us complete faith and guide us all the time. Send Your Rahmah (Mercy) upon us, send rain of blessings upon us and give us licit food. Guide us to lead a complete life in Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam and protect us against all kinds of maladies, bid and small. Give us the opportunity to serve Your Jamaat which you established through Your Khalifatullah of this era, and make us remain far from misery, fear, terror and debts. Make us, Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam propagate in the four corners of the world.

Oh Allah, grant to us, all members of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, of India, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Mayotte, Comoros, Madagascar, Reunion Island, Seychelles, Rodrigues, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan etc. Taqwa and piety. Ameen Soumma Ameen, Ya Rabbal Aalameen.

- Eid-ul-Fitr Sermon of 29 July 2014 (01 Shawwal 1435 Hijri) ~ delivered by Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius.