Opinion
[Friday Sermon] The Eid-ul-Fitr Celebration
By Imam Murtadha Gusau
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all creation. May the salutations of Allah, His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet, his family, his companions and his true and sincere followers until the Last Day – then to proceed:
Dear brothers and sisters! Eid-ul-Fitr or the Festival of breaking the fast is one of the most celebrated of all Muslim holidays, observed by over two billion Muslims around the world. During the entire month of Ramadan, Muslims observe a strict fast and participate in various pious activities such as charitable giving/Sadaqah, peacemaking, Qur’an recitation, Zikr, Tarawih/Qiyamul-lail etc. It is a time of intense spiritual renewal for those who observe it. At the end of Ramadan, Muslims throughout the world break their fast and celebrate their accomplishments in Eid-ul-Fitr.
Respected brothers and sisters! This year, 1443 AH/2022 Eid-ul-fitr is expected In Shaa Allah to be celebrated on Sunday, May 1st 2022 or Monday, May 2nd 2022. However, the exact date is subject to the sighting of the moon of Shawwal, 1443 AH, the 10th month of Islamic Calendar, and the announcement from your country’s supreme Islamic leader.
Beloved servants of Allah! Eid-ul-Fitr, known as ’عيد الفطر’ in Arabic, is a religious festival for all Muslims around the world. Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of noble month of Ramadan. Eid-ul-Fitr is Allah’s reward for believers who fasted during the noble month of Ramadan. This is also believers thanking Allah for giving them the chance and the strength to carry out His commands during the blessed month of Ramadan. Traditionally, Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated for three days in almost all Muslim countries.
Both Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-Al-Adha have great significance in Islam as the same is evident from the following Hadith, which was narrated by Anas Bin Malik (RA), who said:
“Allah has given you better than those feasts (festivals of non-believers): the Eid-ul-Adha and Eid-ul-Fitr.” [An-Nasa’i]
Remember one thing that Fasting on Eid days i-e Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-al-Adha is forbidden as the same is evident from the following Hadith, which was narrated by Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri (RA), who said that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:
“No fasting is permissible on the two days of Eid-ul-Fitr and EId-ul-Adha.” [Bukhari]
Since it is a religious festival, Muslims all over the world celebrate this event with much fervour and each country’s celebrations vary as there is an influence of their traditions. Muslims all over the world celebrate the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr by starting the day with the Eid prayer. After offering prayer, Muslim greet each other with the customary Eid greeting, ‘Eid Mubarak.’ Everyone gets new clothes made for the special occasion because every single person wants to look his/her best. The day is spent with friends and family get-togethers, indulging in delicious feasts and handing out gifts also known as Sallah gifts or Barka da Sallah in hausa language.
Eid-ul-Fitr is a time of happiness and enjoyment; and this is also evident from the following Hadith, which was narrated by Aisha (RA), who reported that Prophet (Peace be upon him) said to Abu Bakr (RA) (On the day of Eid when Abu Bakr (RA) saw two girls were singing the stories about the Day of Bu’ath in Madinah):
“….. O Abu Bakr! Every people have their Eid and this is our Eid.” [Bukhari]
In another narration, it is said that Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) said to Abu Bakr (RA):
“Let them be O Abu Bakr, for these are days of Eid.”
Religious scholars have differing opinions on Eid prayers. However, all Muslims should attend prayers of both Eids as most scholars, on the basis of strong evidence, is of opinion that it is Wajib (obligation). One of the purposes behind Eid Prayer is to provide an opportunity to a large number of Muslims to attend congregations in an atmosphere of religious piety. Apart from prayer, the Eid sermon (after Eid Prayer) has also been made an integral part of this gathering and the prayer.
It is important and compulsory for a Muslim to pay Zakatul Fitr or Sadaqatul Fitr before offering of Eid Prayer. [Bukhari]
The time for Eid Prayer begins from the time the sun is three meters above the horizon until the sun reaches its meridian. However, it is better to offer the prayer in the early hours after the sunrise. [Abu Dawud]
Know that, Eid Prayer is performed without any Iqamah or Azan. [Muslim]
And Eid prayer consists of two Raka’ats (Two Units Prayer) during which Takbir (Allahu Akbar) is announced seven times. [Abu Dawud]
Rest of the Eid prayer is same as other prayer offered daily. After completing the prayer, it is Sunnah (some scholars say that it is Wajib/obligatory) to listen to the Sermon (Khutbah) after Eid Prayer. So one should stay for the Imam’s sermon to end after completing the Eid Prayer. After listening to the sermon, Muslims congratulate each other with greetings such as Eid Mubarak, Happy Eid, and عيد مبارك etc. However, the most common Eid Greeting Muslims like to wish their friends and fellow Muslims with, is Eid Mubarak.
A person should follow the teachings of the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) for every aspect of life. Same should also be applied for Eid Prayer. Following are some of the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) with regards to Eid prayer that every Muslim should follow:
1. Take a bath or perform ablution before going for prayer.
2. Use a toothbrush or Miswak to clean your mouth.
3. Wear your best clothes on this day.
4. Apply perfume.
5. Eat an odd number of dates before leaving for prayer of Eid-ul-Fitr. [Bukhari]
6. Make sure that you have paid Zakatul Fitr before offering Eid Prayer.
7. Recite the following Takbirats while going to and returning from Eid Prayer:
“اَللهُ أَكْبَرُ ، اَللهُ أَكْبَرُ، اَللهُ أَكْبَرُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ ، وَاللهُ أَكْبَرُ، اَللهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, la ilaha illallah, wallahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, walillahil hamd.
Meaning:
Allah is Most Great, Allah is most Great, Allah is most Great there is no god but Allah, Allah is Most great, Allah is most great, and to Allah be praise.” [See Irwa Al Ghalil, vol. 3, page 125]
8. Listen to the Sermon (Khutbah) after offering Eid Prayer. [An-Nasa’i]
9. Use different ways while going to and returning from the Mosque (Eid ground) after offering Eid Prayer. [Bukhari]
Dear brothers and sisters! Narrated Ibn Umar (RA) that:
“Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) made it incumbent (Wajib/obligatory) on all the servants or free Muslims, male or female, to pay one Sa’i of dates, barley or grain as Zakatul Fitr.” [Bukhari]
According to above mentioned Hadith, Zakatul Fitr or Sadaqatul Fitr is Wajib/obligatory upon every Muslim including servant, freeman, male, female, young, new-born and old. Compulsion of Zakatul Fitr on a Muslim is same as the Nisab of normal Zakah (Nisab Is the exemption limit for the payment of Zakah).
The amount of Sadaqatul Fitr to be given by each person is an amount minimum or equivalent to one Sa’i of grain, barley or date. Sa’i is an ancient measure of volume and most common understanding is that one Sa’i is equivalent to approx. 2.25-2.5 KGs. However, Muslim scholars all around the world usually announce the amount of Zakatul Fitr to be paid during Ramadan.
As in normal Zakah, Zakatul Fitr is distributed among poor and needy Muslims. It is preferable to give Sadaqatul Fitr first to needy relatives, then to needy neighbours and then to other needy Muslims. And the Zakatul Fitr should be paid before the Eid Prayer.
Celebrate the day with your loved ones by indulging in delicious festive feasts and handing out gifts. Give out charity as much as you can so that your underprivileged Muslim brothers and sisters can also celebrate this blessed festival. And please remember the entire Ummah and your country in your prayers and your Du’as (Supplications).
Dear brothers and sisters! We sincerely seek your financial support on the feeding and Eid-ul-fitr celebration in this blessed month of Ramadan. Your support is highly needed for Allah’s sake.
As usual, we sincerely solicit for your kind and sincere contribution towards the Ramadan feeding and clothing of our orphans, widows and less privileged; and the development of our schools and Islamic Center financially, materially and morally.
Our aim and objective always is to have a standard Islamic center and Arabic/Islamic schools for orphans and less privileged Muslims children in Nigeria.
If you want to pay your Zakah, Sadaqah, Zakatul-Fitr/Sadaqatul-Fitr, Fidyah, or Kaffarah, our great Islamic center is waiting for you. Your donation will help distribute clothes, food packs, and iftar food for our orphans.
Remember, Ramadan will not be the same without our families, but unfortunately this is not a privilege enjoyed by everyone. This is the reason we’re steadfast in planning to provide iftar for poor people, orphans, widows, less privileged etc.
We are planning to distribute food stuff package that worth amount of to 4000 poor Muslim families and 2000 orphans In Shaa Allah.
And your contribution towards feeding the fasting souls is highly waiting as usual. May Allah rewards all your efforts and your good deeds, ameen.
Allah Almighty says:
“If you support the course of Allah, He will support you.” [Qur’an, 47: 7]
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:
“Whoever relieves his Muslim brother of a hardship from the hardships of this world, Allah shall relieve him of a hardship from the hardships of the Day of Judgement. And whoever makes things easy for a person in difficulty, Allah will ease for him in this world and the Next. Allah is forever aiding a servant so long as he is in the aid of his Muslim brother.”
And he (Peace be upon him) said:
“Every act of goodness is considered as Sadaqah.” [Al-Bukhari]
We need the followings:
• Permanent buildings with many classes
• Boards, chairs and desks
• Arabic and Islamic books
• Feeding facilities
• Uniforms
• Computers
• Foodstuffs for Ramadan Iftar and clothes for orphan’s Sallah festival
Account details:
Account no. – 0048647196
Account name – Murtala Muhammed
GTBank
For more enquiries contact, Imam Murtadha Muhammad, the director and Imam Of the Center: 08038289761.
To donate foodstuffs. Contact the following Numbers: 08038289761, 08056557477
Jazakumullah Khairan as you kindly contribute.
Ya Allah, the blessed month of Ramadan is now coming to an end, please help us to remain steadfast in your religion. Grant us the knowledge of your religion.
Ya Allah, you are truly merciful, please forgive us. Choose for us, what is best.
Ya Allah, help us to succeed in this life and the hereafter.
Ya Allah, if we have been in anyway ungrateful, unjust, dishonest; please forgive us.
Ya Allah, we don’t know if we will be alive next Ramadan, please forgive us. Grant us a place in paradise. Save us from hellfire.
Ya Allah, include us in the people who will be put in heaven without accountability.
Ya Allah, help us to spread your religion in the best of ways.
Ya Allah, please let us not be among the backbiters.
Ya Allah, forgive us if we have been among the arrogant.
Ya Allah forgive us, grant us success, verily you are most forgiving, most merciful, ameen.
May Allah send His Salah and Salam upon our noble Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him).
And all praises and thanks are due to Allah alone, Lord of the worlds. May the peace, blessings and salutations of Allah be upon our noble Messenger, Muhammad, and upon his family, his Companions and his true and sincere followers.
Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumu’ah and the late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okene’s Mosques, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: gusauimam@gmail.com or +2348038289761.
This Jumu’ah Khutbah (Friday sermon) was prepared for delivery today, Friday, Ramadan 28, 1443 AH (April 29, 2022).
Dr. Auwalu Halilu
Bismillah Rahmanir Raheem
On this joyous occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, I extend my heartfelt greetings to the good people of Kano State, particularly education stakeholders, parents, teachers, and students. May this Eid bring peace, prosperity, and countless blessings to us all.
As we celebrate the completion of Ramadan, a month of sacrifice, reflection, and self-discipline, let us carry forward its invaluable lessons into our collective commitment to education. Just as Ramadan teaches us patience, perseverance, and generosity, we must apply these virtues in ensuring that every child, especially the most vulnerable, has access to quality education.
Education is the key to sustainable development, and our duty as a society is to nurture a system that is inclusive, accountable, and responsive to the needs of our children. The spirit of Ramadan encourages us to be more compassionate and proactive in addressing societal challenges. Let this spirit guide our continuous advocacy for improved educational policies, increased access to learning opportunities, and enhanced support for teachers and students.
As we mark this blessed day, I urge all stakeholders, government agencies, civil society organizations, community leaders, and development partners to renew their commitment to strengthening education in Kano State. Together, let us translate the lessons of sacrifice, discipline, and generosity into actionable steps toward building a future where every child has a fair chance to learn and thrive.
Eid Mubarak! May Allah (SWT) bless our efforts and grant us success in our quest for an enlightened and educated society.
Dr. Auwalu Halilu, is a Co-Chair (CSOs), Kano State Accountability Forum on Education (K-SAFE).
By Yushau Hamza
Politics, as a practice, should be driven by ideology, principles and commitment to a cause that aligns with the people’s needs and aspirations. The question of whether Nyesom Wike the minister of the FCT and former governor of rivers state is truly a politician or merely an opportunist manipulating political structures for personal gains has sparked debates within Nigeria’s political space. While he claims to be a staunch member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), his recent political maneuvers suggest otherwise. Wike has for almost two years been seen actively working with the All Progressives Congress (APC), benefiting from its leadership while simultaneously being part of major internal turmoil within his own party, the people’s Democratic Party.
An ideological politician is someone who upholds a clear political philosophy and remains committed to their beliefs and party principles as such, regardless of personal interests or shifting political tides. Such a politician is guided by a vision for governance, policy-making, and national development, rather than self-serving ambitions.
Ideological politicians are often loyal to their party’s core values and are willing to defend them at all costs, even when faced with challenges.
Being a politician goes beyond holding a title or occupying a position in government. A true politician believes in and upholds a set of ideological principles and remains unshaken and even by his perceived self-interest, he chooses to Remains loyal to his party and its policies to Work for the collective goods rather than for his self-interest. Or better still he cross carpets
A true politician, Respects the democratic process and promotes political stability rather than discord. He engages in political participation that strengthens institutions rather than undermines them.
The Wike Dilemma of being a Politician or a Political Opportunist, raises serious concerns about his ideological stance. While he claims to be a PDP member, his actions align more with the interests of the APC. His role in engineering crises within the PDP, including an allegedly mastermind in the suspension of a democratically elected governor of rivers state, his overall grip on party leadership matters reveal a politician who is more interested in power dynamics than in ideological governance.
His involvement in another party’s administration without official defection, portrays him as a political opportunist rather than an ideological politician. He enjoys the benefits of APC leadership while refusing to fully commit to the party, leaving PDP in turmoil without a clear direction.
Wike has turned out to be a politician who straddles between two parties without clear allegiance, this action can be best described as a political mercenary ship, or an opportunistic power broker. Such individuals prioritize their personal ambitions over political consistency, switching alliances to secure their interests at the expense of democratic integrity.
Nyesom Wake’s political trajectory, challenges the notion of ideological consistency in Nigerian politics. His actions suggest that he is more of a strategic power player than a principled politician. If politics is to serve the people and democracy is to thrive, Nigeria needs leaders who embody ideological commitment rather than self-serving maneuvering. Wikes stances leaves all with a terrific question. Can politicians nowadays be trusted if their loyalty fluctuates between personal gains and party allegiance? Only time and the political practices in the Nigeria democratic terrain can live to tell.
Yushau Hamza writes from Kafinchiri town, Garko Local Government Area, Kano State.
By Abdulaziz Abdulaziz
As I readied myself to anchor a special Iftar dinner in honour of His Excellency President Bola Tinubu holding this evening thoughts about the man race in my mind: What is unique about the President? What do I admire about him? What are the memorable moments with him?
The story of the rise of Bola Tinubu from humble beginnings to the pinnacle is largely well known. There is no point regurgitating it. However, observing and working with man up close with bring to the fore many attributes that contribute in shaping his worldwide, his character, his leadership acumen and aided his rise to the top.
First, President Tinubu is very human and humane. He is human in the sense that he is humble, authentic and true to himself. No airs, no pride, no cosmetics. He relates well with his old friends, associates and staff in a convivial atmosphere devoid of haughtiness associated with people in power. He shares jokes less than he scorns. He could be stern and soft making sure that work atmosphere is not bereft of humanity or too jovial to be mistaken as laissez faire. He is generous with laughter when it is evoked but could be too sober in addressing serious issues that you’d wonder if he would breakdown. That’s the human part.
President Tinubu is also very humane. As a person, he is generous and compassionate to those he could reach with his hands. He never forgot friends or families of dead associates and colleagues. He kept to that even with his current tedious job. His good heart makes him the last person to hurt. Instead, he ignores. The President certainly bears no evil intentions against anyone or a collective. The story of his large-heartedness is well told that it warrants no repeating here. He accepts prodigal sons back with forgiving smile.
An important lesson from his life is steadfastness and perseverance. They brought him to where he is. President Tinubu, like the proverbial person who has been there for long, has surely seen a lot. He had seen changing times: real and fake smiles, shifting alliances, broken loyalties, back-stabbing, gang-ups, yet he remained focused and patien. Like the Rock of Gibraltar he remains unshaken and unperturbed. But God works in mysterious ways. For example, some of the arrowheads of Tinubu’s estrangement from a government he helped form in 2015 are today out in the cold. But while he took the unfortunate happenings of that period with steely resolve and perseverance, they are took weak to persevere being out of the table. While he was mature and statemanly, they crying hoarse like a kid deprived of precious doll.
As a leader, the President amazes me with his resolve to take bold even if costly decisions. He embodies the principle that leadership is not about taking popular decisions but about taking right decisions even if painful and inconveniencing. Like a physician on duty, President Tinubu’s administration of some painful reforms were not contemptuos of the feeling of the people, as some analysts alluded. They were, rather, out of courage to take necessary actions to stop the hemorrhage of our country. The hemorrhage may favour those of us now but if not stopped it would certainly prove fatal for our future.
The President was conscious that those actions were not popular. In fact, he was not unconscious that they could be costly politically like it was seen happen in many countries. But the statesman that he is he chose the country over himself. AlhamdulilLah! Mr the President is being proved right with the emerging light from the economic tunnel.
On the occasion of Mr President’s birthday I pray pervently for better health and greater wisdom as he steers the ship of the nation to the shore of progress, stability and development.
Happy birthday, Sir.
Abdulaziz is a Senior Special Assistant to the President and member of the Presidential Communication Team.
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