The Day of Eid: Joy That Follows Surrender
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate.
Blessings and peace be upon our Master Muhammad and upon his Folk and
Companions.
Eid al-Adha is the day that comes after surrender. Ibrahim (peace be upon him) raised the knife in obedience, and Allah replaced his son with a ram. The Khalil and his family laid open what was most beloved to them, and the Lord returned it.
The Verse the Day Rests On
﴿وَفَدَيْنَاهُ بِذِبْحٍ عَظِيمٍ﴾
“And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice.”
Quran 37:107
When Ibrahim raised the knife, his hand was held back and a lamb was placed where his son had been. This is the heart of Eid al-Adha. The believer hands over what is hardest to give, and the Lord returns it, multiplied.
What the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) Called It
«إِنَّ أَعْظَمَ الْأَيَّامِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ يَوْمُ النَّحْرِ ثُمَّ يَوْمُ الْقَرِّ.»
“The greatest day with Allah is the Day of Sacrifice, then the Day of Settling.”
Abu Dawud
In this one respect, the day is considered greater even than Friday. The community gathers for a short prayer followed by long hours of celebration. The meat of the sacrifice is shared with the family, the neighbors, and the poor—a third for each, as the early jurists taught.
The Eid Prayer
The Eid prayer is two rakats, with no adhan and no iqama. In each rakat, there are extra takbirs: seven before the first recitation and five before the second, according to the position of most of the schools. The khutba comes after the prayer, not before.
Imam Ghazali (Allah have mercy on him) writes in the Ihya that this prayer is the believer’s celebration of his Lord, and not a worldly festival dressed in religion. The clothes are clean, the breath sweet, and the heart is wide [Ghazali, Ihya Ulum al-Din].
What Eid Asks of the Heart
Eid asks for two things.
The first is gratitude. The phrase that carried us through these ten days,
حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ
Allah is sufficient for us, and the Best of Guardians He is.
has brought the believer to a morning of safety, family, and forgiveness. The response now is shukr.
The second is generosity. The sacrifice (udhiya) is meant to feed others. Part of the meat is kept for the family, some is given to the neighbors, and a share is set aside for those who cannot afford a meal today.
What Is Asked of You Today
Pray the Eid prayer in the mosque. Wear something clean. Embrace those you love, and call the one you have been distant from. Give to the poor through the udhiya, through cash, or through a knock on a neighbor’s door.
When you sit at the table with those who have made it to this day with you, say the phrase once more. The same words as before, but spoken this time in thanksgiving.
حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ
Allah is sufficient for us, and the Best of Guardians He is.
Eid Mubarak. May Allah accept from us and from you. May He make us among those who raise the knife in trust and find the lamb in its place.
And all praise is to Allah, by whose grace good works are brought to completion.
