تقبل الله منا ومنكم
Taqabbal Allahu minna wa minkum
The day of Eid al-Fitr will depend on the sighting of the new moon. Muslims across the globe will be looking for the new moon of Shawwal on Thursday 20th April 2023 around Maghrib time. If the new moon is spotted on Thursday, Friday 21st would be Eid. If the moon is not sighted on Thursday, Eid will be on Saturday 22nd.
UPDATE: the new moon has been sighted in Saudi Arabia. We confirm that we will be celebrating Eid al-Fitr on Friday 21st April.
Eid al-Fitr Jama'at on Friday 21st April 2023
Brothers & sisters for all 3 Jama'at
- 1st Eid Jama'ah: 8am – Khutbah by Qari Sheikh Said Fayoud & Jama'ah by Mufti Abdul Aziz
- 2nd Eid Jama'ah: 9am – Mawlana Mahbub Ahmed
- 3rd Eid Jama'ah: 10am – Imam Abdul Hannan
Zakat/Sadaqah al-Fitr
Zakat al-Fitr (also known as Sadaqah al-Fitr) is charity given to the poor by the end of the fasting in the month of Ramadan, separate from the normal annual Zakat. The word Fitr means the same as Iftar, breaking a fast and it comes from the same root word as Futur which means breakfast. It is a duty which is Wajib (required) of every Muslim, whether male or female, minor or adult as long as he/she has the means to do so, which the head of the household may pay for the other members. This year, the cost of Zakat al-Fitr is £5 per person, to be collected before the Eid prayer.
Sunnah acts on the day of Eid al-Fitr
- Make du'a (supplication) the night before Eid
- Wake up early in the morning
- Clean one's teeth with a miswak or brush
- Make Ghusl (take a bath/shower)
- Put on one's best available clothes
- Put on Attar (perfume)
- Eat an odd number of dates before the Eid prayer (differs from Eid al-Adha, when it is Sunnah to not eat before the Eid prayer)
- Recite Takbir al-Tashreeq in a soft voice while going to the Eid prayer
- Congratulating each other
- On Eid day, we often congratulate each other with greetings such as ‘Eid Mubarak'. However, a better way to greet each other is with: ‘Taqabbal Allahu minna wa minka', which means ‘May Allah accept (the fast and worship) from us and from you'.
- Take different routes to/from Eid salah
- Perform Eid salah
- There are no Nafl (voluntary) prayers offered before or after the Eid prayer
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لَا إلَهَ إلَّا اللَّهُ وَاَللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْد
Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar. La ilaha illallahu wallahu akbar. Allahu akbar wa lillahil hamd
Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest. There is no god besides Allah and Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest and to Allah belongs all praise.
The Eid Prayer
The Eid prayer has two Rak'at (plural of Rak'ah: a single iteration of prayer movements) performed in the normal way, with the addition of 6 extra Takbirs (magnification of God) according to the Hanafi School of Thought, or 12 extra Takbirs for other Schools of Thought. In the Hanafi School, 3 are in the beginning of the first Rak'ah, and 3 just before Ruku' (belt-low bowing) in the second Rak'ah. In the Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali Schools, 7 are in the first Rak'ah, and 5 in the second. You should follow what the Imam does regardless of your School of Thought. The detailed way of performing the Eid prayer is as follows:
The Imam will begin the prayer without Adhan or Iqamah. He will begin the prayer by reciting Takbir al-Tahrimah (Allahu Akbar). You should raise your hands up to the ears, and after reciting the Takbir, you should set your hands according to your School of Thought. The Imam and you should recite Thana' (Subhanak Allah humma…). After the completion of Thana', the Imam will recite Takbir 3 (or 7) times. At the first calls of Takbir you should raise your hands up to the ears, and after reciting Takbir in a low voice, should let your hands drop. After the 3rd (or 7th) Takbir, you should set them according to your School of Thought. After these three Takbirs, the Imam will complete the first Rak'ah in the normal way like for Jumu'ah prayer, starting with Surah Fatihah.
After rising for the second Rak'ah, the Imam will begin the recitations of Surah Fatihah and another Surah as normal. When the Imam finishes his recitation, he will recite 3 (or 5) Takbirs just before bowing down for Ruku'. At each Takbir you should again raise your hands up to the ears, and after saying Takbir, let them drop. After these 3 (or 5) Takbirs have been called and completed, the Imam will say another Takbir for bowing down into the Ruku' position. The Imam will complete the rest of the prayer in the normal way like for Jumu'ah prayer.
Immediately after the prayer, the Imam will deliver the Khutbah. It is Wajib (required) to listen to the Khutbah of Eid prayer and must be listened to in perfect peace and silence.