Zakat al-Fitr

Zakat al Fitr Zakat al Fitr is an obligatory charity on every muslim at the end of the month of ramadan. Ibn 'Umar said: "the prophet (p.b.u.h.) enjoined the payment of one sa'a of dates or one sa'a of barley as Zakat al-Fitr on every Muslim, young and old, male and female, free and slave." (Bukhari and Muslim)

 The purpose of Zakat al-Fitr is to purify the one who has fasted from any type of indecent act or speech he might have committed while fasting. it also helps the poor and the needy.
Ibn abbas said: "the messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h.) enjoined Zakat al-Fitr on the one who fasts to shield him from any indecent act or speech and for the purpose of providing food for the needy." (Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah.) 

The amount of Zakat al-Fitr As the first Hadith indicated, the amount of Zakat al-Fitr is one Sa'a.

Sa'a is a volume measure corresponding approximately to the volume of 5 lb of good wheat.

The material of Zakat can be either dates, barley, wheat, rice, corn or similar items considered as basic foods.

Abu Saeed said: "we used to give for Zakat al-Fitr on behalf of every child, aged person, free man or slave during the lifetime of the messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h.) one Sa'a of food, or one Sa'a of dried yogurt, or one Sa'a of barley, or one Sa'a of dates, or one Sa'a of raisins." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

 The time for Zakat al-Fitr Zakat al-Fitr has to be paid by the end of Ramadhan.
There are two times to pay akat al-Fitr. Either one or two days before Eid as 'Umar used to do, or the day of Eid before the Eid prayer.

Ibn Umar reported that the prophet (p.b.u.h.) ordered them to pay Zakat al-Fitr before they go out to perform the Eidprayer.
If Zakat al-Fitr is paid after the Eid prayer, it will only be considered as regular charity.
The prophet (p.b.u.h.) said: "if one pays Zakat al-Fitr before the salat, it is considered an accepted Zakat, if he pays it after the salat, it is considered an ordinary charity." (Abu Dawud)

 Zakat al-Fitr is to be given to the same eight categories or people as in the other types of zakat. Some scholars say that the poor and the needy are the most deserving ones since the prophet (p.b.u.h.) said that it had "...the purpose of providing food for the needy." 

THE SUNNAH OF THE DAY OF EID

THE SUNNAH OF THE DAY OF EID -:- EVERY MUSLIM SHOULD OBSERVE:

1 – Doing Ghusl before going out to the Prayer. 
Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi that Abdullah ibn Umar used to do ghusl on the day of Fitr before going to the place of prayer. [Malik :: Book 10 : Hadith 10.1.2]

2 – Eating before going out to pray on Eid al-Fitr: 
Narrated Anas bin Malik,: Allah's Apostle never proceeded (for the prayer) on the Day of 'Id-ul-Fitr unless he had eaten some dates. Anas also narrated: The Prophet used to eat odd number of dates. [Bukhari :: Book 2 :: Volume 15 :: Hadith 73]
Whoever does not have any dates may eat anything that is permissible. 

3 – Takbeer on the day of Eid The time for takbeer on Eid al-Fitr starts from the night before Eid until the imam enters to lead the Eid prayer.
 It was narrated in a saheeh report that ‘Abd al-Rahmaan al-Sulami said, “They (companions) emphasized it more on the day of al-Fitr than the day of al-Adha.”. Wakee’ said, this refers to the takbeer. [See Irwa’ al-Ghaleel, 3/122/]
Ibn Abi Shaybah narrated with a saheeh isnaad that al-Zuhri said: The people used to recite Takbeer on Eid when they came out of their houses until they came to the prayer place, and until the imam came out. When the imam came out they fell silent, and when he said takbeer they said takbeer. [See Irwa’ al-Ghaleel, 1/121]

4 – Offering Congratulations 
It was narrated that Jubayr ibn Nufayr said: When the companions of the Prophet PBUH met one another on the day of Eid, they would say to one another, " تَقَبَّلَ اللَّهُ مِنَّا وَمِنْك 'Taqabbal Allaahu minna wa mink' '(May Allaah accept (this worship) from us and from you)". [Ibn Hajar said, its isnaad is hasan. Al-Fath, 2/446.]

 5 – Adorning oneself on the occasion of Eid.
 Narrated 'Abdullah bin Umar: Umar bought a silk cloak from the market, took it to Allah's Apostle and said, "O Allah's Apostle! Take it and adorn yourself with it during the 'Id and when the delegations visit you." Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) replied, "This dress is for those who have no share (in the Hereafter)." [Bukhari :: Book 2 :: Volume 15 :: Hadith 69]
The Prophet PBUH agreed with ‘Umar on the idea of adorning oneself for Eid, but he denounced him for choosing this cloak because it was made of silk. 

Narrated Naafi: Ibn ‘Umar used to wear his best clothes on Eid. [Sunan Kubra Bayhaqi 6363, Sahih Isnaad]So a man should wear the best clothes that he has when going out for Eid. 

6 – Going to the Prayer by one route and returning by another. 

Narrated Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah RA: "On the day of Eid, the Prophet PBUH would vary his route, i.e., he would go via one route and come back via a different route". [Bukhaari 986]

Laylatul Qadr

Laylatul Qadr

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said:
“Verily this month has come to you; and therein is a night which is better than a thousand months. Whosoever is deprived of it is deprived of all good; and none is deprived of its good except a totally unfortunate person.” [Ibn Majah]

... Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Power) is the crowning glory of Ramadhan. Its merit can be judged by the fact that it was the night in which Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) chose to send down the Quran from the Lawh-Mahfudh (Preserved Tablet) to the earthly skies.

“We have indeed revealed this in the Night of Power. And what will explain to you what the Night of Power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit (Jibreel) descend in it by Allah's permission, with every command. Peace it is till the debut of dawn!” [Quran: Surah Al-Qadr]

A thousand months are equivalent to 83 years and 4 months. Fortunate is the person who spends this night in prayer and trying to understand the Quran that made this night so special.

The person who spends this night in trying to draw closer to Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) through His revelation will be blessed with the reward of having worshipped Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) for at least eighty three years and four months consecutively. Since Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) says that the Night of Power is better than one thousand months the reward is even greater than that.

A'meen.