Muslims always over the world celebrate two festive events, called the Eidain (plural of word Eid) These two festivities are as significant religious festival, marking the end of important Islamic observances. Both Eids are times of celebration, prayer, family gatherings, giving to charity, and fostering community spirit.
Today we take our readers back into the early days of Islam when Muslims started to celebrate Eid festivals on two occasions as under:
- Eid al-Fitr: This festival marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. Ramadan is a time for Muslims to fast from dawn to sunset, engage in prayer, reflection, and community activities. Eid al-Fitr, also known as the "Festival of Breaking the Fast," is a day of joy and gratitude to Allah (God) for giving Muslims the strength to complete their fast and the opportunity to grow spiritually. It is also a time for charitable giving, as Muslims are encouraged to perform acts of kindness, particularly by giving to those in need (through the obligatory Zakat al-Fitr).
- Eid al-Adha: This festival is also called the "Festival of Sacrifice." It commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son, Isma'il (Ishmael), in obedience to Allah's command. However, just as Ibrahim was about to sacrifice his son, Allah provided a ram to be sacrificed in his place. Eid al-Adha takes place during the annual Hajj pilgrimage and involves Muslims who can afford it sacrificing an animal (often a sheep, goat, cow, or camel) and distributing the meat to family, friends, and those in need.
This is all we know about the two Eids. But today we share a hadith attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ which tells as why the revered Prophet Muhammad ﷺ made these two occasions as The Occasions to celebrate instead of the festivities of pre Islamic era. This hadith is narrated in several collections, including Sunan Abu Dawood and Sahih al-Bukhari, and it addresses the practice of celebrating certain days during the pre-Islamic period (known as the Jahiliyyah period) and how Islam replaced those practices with days of true religious significance. Both Eids are thus times of celebration, prayer, family gatherings, giving to charity, and fostering community spirit.
Full Text of the Hadith:
Narrated by Anas ibn Malik: "When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) came to Madinah, he saw the people celebrating two days on which they engaged in games. He asked them, 'What are these two days?' They said, 'We used to engage ourselves in games on these days in the pre-Islamic period.' The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) replied, 'Allah has substituted for them something better than them: the day of sacrifice (al-Adha) and the day of the breaking of the fast (al-Fitr).'"
Arabic Text:
حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، عَنْ حُمَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ قَدِمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْمَدِينَةَ وَلَهُمْ يَوْمَانِ يَلْعَبُونَ فِيهِمَا فَقَالَ " مَا هَذَانِ الْيَوْمَانِ " . قَالُوا كُنَّا نَلْعَبُ فِيهِمَا فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَبْدَلَكُمْ بِهِمَا خَيْرًا مِنْهُمَا يَوْمَ الأَضْحَى وَيَوْمَ الْفِطْرِ " .
Grade: Sahih (Al-Albani)
Explanation and Context
- Context of the Hadith:
- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), when he arrived in Madinah, noticed that the people of Madinah were celebrating two specific days on which they used to engage in entertainment and games. This practice had been part of their culture long before Islam.
- The people of Madinah explained that these were days of celebration from the pre-Islamic (Jahiliyyah) period—a time before the advent of Islam when various tribes in the Arabian Peninsula had their own customs and festivals. These celebrations typically involved playing games, feasting, and socializing.
- The Prophet's Inquiry: The Prophet (peace be upon him) inquired about the significance of these two days. His question indicates that these practices were foreign to Islam and not part of the Islamic tradition, prompting a discussion about their legitimacy.
- The Prophet's Response: The Prophet (peace be upon him) responded by telling the people that Allah had substituted these two days with two better days—the days of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
- Eid al-Fitr is the day after the month of Ramadan ends, marking the celebration of breaking the fast, a time of gratitude, charity, and unity among Muslims. Thus the first Eid al-Fitr was celebrated in 624 CE, in the 2nd year of the Islamic calendar. It occurred after the completion of the first Ramadan observed by Muslims following the migration (Hijrah) of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his followers from Mecca to Medina.
- Eid al-Adha is the day after the completion of the Hajj pilgrimage and commemorates the sacrifice of Ibrahim (Abraham) and his willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to Allah's command. This day is marked by prayers, charity, and the ritual sacrifice of animals.
Significance of the Hadith
- Replacement of Jahiliyyah Festivals: This hadith highlights how Islam replaced the pre-Islamic, non-religious festivals and celebrations with Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, both of which are rooted in Islamic teachings and are days of religious significance, worship, and communal solidarity.
- Islamic Identity and Unity: The two Eids established by Islam serve to bring Muslims together in worship, gratitude, and community. Unlike the days of the Jahiliyyah, which were marked by superficial games and distractions, the two Eids focus on worshiping Allah, fulfilling religious duties, and offering sacrifices that symbolize devotion to Allah.
- Allah’s Blessing in Substitution: The Prophet (peace be upon him) emphasized that these two days given by Allah are better than the ones the people had celebrated before, as they are occasions for true worship, reflection, and spiritual benefit.
Implication for the Muslim Ummah
The hadith reinforces the idea that in Islam, celebrations and special days are centered on worship, remembrance of Allah, and acts of devotion. Muslims are encouraged to abandon pre-Islamic customs and instead embrace the days that Allah has legislated for them, ensuring that their celebrations are in line with the principles of Islam.
It also stresses the importance of the Eid prayers, the significance of charity (such as giving Zakat al-Fitr on Eid al-Fitr), and the sacrifice (like the Qurbani on Eid al-Adha) as forms of worship that should replace any non-Islamic practices.
Conclusion
This hadith shows how Islam replaced the pre-Islamic days of celebration and idle entertainment with two days that hold profound religious meaning, encouraging Muslims to focus on worship, gratitude, and community. The days of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are celebrations that honor Allah’s commands and represent a celebration of Islam’s teachings, bringing Muslims closer to their faith and to one another.
The purpose of sharing this Hadith is educate Muslims the genesis of celebrating Eid festivals and how and why these replaced the pre-Islamic era games and festivals which were only to make merry and enjoy.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
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Read more about Muslim festivities including Eids at our reference page: Muslim Festivals
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