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Id al- Fitr and Id al-Adha
By: Ayatullah Shaheed Sayyid Muhammad Baqir al-Hakim
The two days of ‘«d merge with each other in a set of common laws:
• It is forbidden to fast on these two days.
• It is obligatory, or recommended under certain conditions, to perform a special prayer the details and conditions of which are available in the books of practical laws by scholars.
• It is obligatory, or recommended under certain conditions, to defray a special poor-rate.
• It is recommended to supplicate Almighty Allah and exchange visits with brethren-in-faith.
Moreover, the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) have emphasized other matters for these two days:
• Carry out certain acts and utter certain litanies and supplicatory prayers, especially on ‘Id al-Fitr: In al-Sahifah al-Sajjadiyyah, there is a supplication to be read exclusively on these two days.
• Bathe
• Adorn oneself, use perfume, wear one’s best clothes, and be clean
• Perform the ziyarah of Imam al-Husayn (‘a)
• The special merit of these two days doubles the reward of any recommended act
Thursday Nights and Fridays
Thursday nights and Fridays excel all other days in eminence and honor. In traditions reported from the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a), Friday is described as a most luminous day. Every hour Almighty Allah releases six hundred thousand persons from Hellfire, doubles rewards for good deeds, erases the punishments of the evildoings committed thereon, raises ranks, grants requests, relieves people from agonies, responds to prayers, forgives sins, accepts repentance, sends sustenance, and takes vengeance against the offenders on behalf of the offended.
In this connection, let us cite three validly reported traditions:
1. Imam al-Ridha (‘a) is reported to have quoted the Holy Prophet (S) as saying:
2. Verily, Friday is the master of days. On Fridays, Almighty Allah doubles the rewards (for good deeds), erases punishments (for evildoing), raises ranks (of faith), responds to prayers, relieves people from misfortunes, and grants grand requests. Friday is the day of bonus. Almighty Allah, on Fridays, releases numerous individuals from Hellfire. When a person prays to Him on Friday, believing in the true standing and the sanctity of this day, it will be incumbent upon Almighty Allah to release that person from Hellfire. If that individual dies on that day or its eve, he or she will be considered like a martyr and be secure when resurrected (on the Day of Judgment). Conversely, if anyone belittles the sanctity of this day and disrespects its standing, it will be incumbent upon Almighty Allah to cast that person into Hellfire unless he or she repents thereafter.7
2. Imam al-Baqir (‘a) is reported to have said: Sunlight never fell on a day better than Friday. When birds meet each other on this day, they greet each other, saying: Peace! Good day!8
3. Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) is reported to have said: On Fridays, do not engage yourselves with anything other than acts of worship, for the servants’ shortcomings are forgiven and Divine mercy descends on Fridays.9
When meeting the qualifications and conditions mentioned by master jurisprudents in their theses of practical laws, it is also obligatory to perform the Friday Prayer.
In addition, another set of recommended acts are performed on Thursday nights and Fridays. The details of these acts can be referred to in books on supplications and recommended acts. However, the following list comprises the most prominent of these acts:
• Bathe (ghusl) on Fridays (some scholars deem this to be obligatory)
• Recite the Holy Qur'an, especially Surahs al-Kahf (No. 18), al-Rahman (No. 55), al-Ahqaf (No. 46), al-Mu'minun (No. 23), and al-Waqi’ah (No. 56).
• Spend liberally on dependents, give alms, and do charitable acts, especially for one’s family members
• Wear dressy clothes, be neat and tidy, and use perfume
• Offer special prayers, such as those attributed to the Holy Prophet, Imam ‘Ali, Lady Fatimah al-Zahra', and Ja’far al-Tayyar (the two-winged), peace be upon them all, as well as prayers attributed to the Holy Imams (‘a). Repeat as frequently as possible the invocation of blessings upon the Holy Prophet and his Household (S).
• Read supplications and litanies dedicated to Fridays, such as Du’a' Kumayl, Imam Zayn al-’Abidin’s Supplication on Friday, Du’a' al-Simat, and many others, such as the two supplications beginning with the following two statements respectively:
O Allah, if one, on this day, prepares oneself or takes pains or gets ready …
O Allah, Witness of all the secrets of the hearts, Hearer of all complaints…
• Repeat the Four Statements of Glorification (al-Tasbihat al-Arba’ah) and the other famous litanies
• Read the ziyarah of Imam al-Husayn (‘a) on Thursday nights and the Holy Prophet (S) and the other Holy Imams (‘a) on Friday mornings. Visit graves and one’s brothers-in-faith.
• Learn about religious laws and affairs
The Four Eves
The night before the Day of ‘Id al-Fitr, the night before the Day of ‘Id al-Adhha, the eve of the 1st of Rajab, and the eve of the fifteenth of Sha’ban are four nights having the same significance and merit and are recommended to be spent in acts of worship.
Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) has reported, on the authority of his fathers, that Imam ‘Ali (‘a) liked devoting himself to worship four nights in the year: the eve of the 1st of Rajab, the eve of the 15th of Sha’ban, the night before ‘Id al-Fitr, and the night before immolation (‘Id al-Adhha).
There are some common acts advised for these four nights. They are as follows:
• Read the ziyarah of Imam al-Husayn (‘a)—an act performed on all distinctive nights of the year, as is maintained from a general review of this act
• Bathe on all these nights except the night before ‘Id al-Adhha
• Read the supplication that begins with the following statement: O He Who is continuous in His Favor upon creatures! O He Who openhandedly bestows gifts!....
Each one of these four nights is spent in worship.
The Night Before ‘Id al-Fitr
Numerous traditions talk about the merits of spending this night in acts of worship. Reports say that this night is not less significant than the Night of Qadr. Recommended acts:
• Bathe
• Spend the night in acts of worship, such as prayers, supplications, entreaties for divine forgiveness; stay overnight in mosques
• Utter the “Four Statements of Exclaiming Almighty Allah’s Greatness” (al-Takbirat al-Arba’ah) immediately after Sunset, in the Evening, at Dawn, and during ‘Id Prayers
• Offer a variety of prayers in order to pass the whole night in acts of worship
• Read the ziyarah of Imam al-Husayn (‘a)
• Read the supplication that begins: O He Who is continuous in His Favor upon creatures! O He Who openhandedly bestows gifts!....
The Night Before ‘Id al-Adhha
The doors of the skies are opened on this blessed night. Special supplications are reportedly read on this night while stopping at al-mash’ar al-haram (the Sacred Place of Rituals) by those performing the Hajj Pilgrimage rites. Other devotional acts, in addition to spending the night in acts of worship, offering prayers, and supplicating include:
• Read the ziyarah of Imam al-Husayn (‘a)
• Read the supplication that begins: O He Who is continuous in His Favor upon creatures! O He Who openhandedly bestows gifts!....
• Offer a six-unit prayer with special recitations.10
It is not improbable to say that bathing on this night is one of its recommended acts, although no tradition confirms it. However, this act has been seen as a phenomenon attached to the acts of all blessed nights and days. Yet, Almighty Allah knows best.
It is also remarkable that nothing important has been mentioned in traditions about the devotional acts on this night, nor have books on devotional acts and supplications mentioned any special act for this night. The reason may be that the acts of this night have come within the rituals of the Hajj Pilgrimage.
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