Message #18803

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Indeed a very wise thread.   Allah bless you Sister Ruhi, brother TS and particularly you father, brother TS.

InshAllah, will send this around to family and friends with special request to pass on to their children.

We didn't go to the Masjid on this Eid al Adha as it was really difficult to get a place with too many wanting to register.  Of course, there were about 4 or 5 different sessions of Eid salat from 7 morning to 10.30 morning because Masjids are taking only one-third their capacity to facilitate social distancing.  Of course, mask wearing at all times, everyone to bring a plastic bag for their shoes and bring their own prayer mats.  Must do wudu at home for Masjid washrooms remain closed.  Attendees and the imam will only offer fard rakats.  Sunnah and nafl rakats to be offered at home.  Children below 12 not allowed and seniors and those with underlying health issues strongly recommended not to attend, to offer salat at home. 

These restrictions are necessary and also makes us feel far from normal times.   So we thought it's better to stay home and do our Eid salat.   After each of our families offering Eid salat at home, we joined for the family khutba via zoom.  There's always a positive in every new arrangement.  This time we got a chance to focus on our kids' education on Eid al-Adha.   We also realized many children aren't clear of the difference in procedures of regular salat and Eid salat.  We explained that clearly in our family khutba on zoom which I mention briefly again as follows for the benefit of other children and readers of this thread.


Method of Eid salah:



Eid salat is optional, not fard, but is a humble traditional gesture and every Muslim should join the Eid congregation.

For Eid prayers (Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha) we are to offer 2 rakats in the standard method.  The only difference is the number of takbirs which has to be 12 times in total of 2 rakats.

Start prayer with niyah, recite Allah-o-Akbar raising your hands, then recite Subhanaka Allah huma, then say Auzubillahi Minash Shaitan rajeem ... then make 7 takbirs reciting Allah-o-Akbar, raising your hands with each takbir.  After 7th takbir recite Fatiha and recite a Surah.  After ruku and sujood of first rakat, say Allh-o-Akbar and stand up.  While standing for the second rakat, recite takbir 5 times.  Then offer the second rakat in the normal way and finish your salat.