About Id/Eid Service

The word `Id (from `ada, he or it returned) is literally "the time of return of joy and of grief" (LL), and hence it comes to indicate of a festival or a periodical festival. The word `Id itself occurs in the Holy Qur'an only in connection with the prayer of Jesus for bread for his disciples in the sense of an ever-recurring happiness (5 : 114). There are two festivals among the Muslims (h. 3), the festival of sacrifices, called `Id al-Adzha, (dzuha meaning early part of the day, and dzahha, he sacrificed a victim in the time of dzuha), and the festival of breaking fasts, called `Id al-Fitr (fatara meaning he split a thing, and aftara, he broke the fast). In the Holy Qur'an, a reference to `Id al-Adzha is contained in the course of the mention of the sacrifices which is the chief feature of that day (v. 1-2).

The dates for the two `Ids are determined with reference to the appearance of the two moon, and hence certain rules are laid down when there is doubt about it (hh. 1, 2). The festivals start, not with any physical enjoyment (h. 3). A sermon is delivered by the imam after two rak`ahs of prayer have been said, and stress is laid in it on matters relating to the welfare of the community (hh. 3, 4). No adhan is delivered, nor the iqamah; a number of additional takbirs is, however, pronounced during the service (hh. 5, 6). Women and children are also required to join in the service and listen to the sermon (hh. 7, 8). The `Id service is held wherever there is a number of Muslims, whether it is a town or a village or a solitary place (h. 8). In the `Id al-Fitr it is necessary to take some food before going out to pray (h. 9). The taking of a bath is also necessary (h. 10). The `Id prayer should be said at an early hour, say be breakfast time (h. 11). The Holy Prophet generally took a different route on returning from the place of prayer (h. 12). Sacrifice should not be offered until prayer has been said (h. 13). Everyone who has the means is required to sacrifice an animal (h. 14). Some details regarding the animals to be sacrificed are given in (hh. 15, 16). One goat or one sheep is sufficient for one man or one household, but seven men may be partners in one cow or one camel (h. 17). The animals may be sacrificed either on the day of `Id or on the two following days (h. 18). A part of the meat of the animal sacrificed is distributed among the poor, and the price of the skin must be devoted to charitable objects (H. xviii : 26). A charitable institution is also connected with the `Id al-Fitr in the form of Fitr charity which must be collected at a central place and then distributed (hh. 19-20). When the `Id occurs on a Friday, the Friday service becomes optional (h. 21). A little music or sport is not prohibited on the `Id day (h. 22).