Engaging in play and entertainment on 'Eed should not make one forget the religious and moral teachings to which he has to adhere strictly. Entertainment and amusement do not justify doing forbidden actions, neglecting duties, and causing harm to people. ‘Aa’ishah pointed this out when she said, “Some Abyssinians were playing with spears and the Messenger of Allah screened me (with his cloak) so that I could watch them,” and her description of the two girls that they were still very young and that they were not singers and that they were singing a Nasheed that is religiously permissible and suits the occasion of ‘Eed.

‘Eed in Islam is not an individual celebration; rather, it is collective. Thus, all individuals of the Islamic nation shall share the happiness of this occasion. Islam came to ensure happiness for all Muslims – from our little children to our relatives and neighbors. This can be clearly manifested by the Sunnah (tradition) of the Prophet, , when he ensured food, which is considered one of the essential elements of happiness, for all members of the Islamic society on the morning of ‘Eed Al-Fitr and sacrificed on the day of ‘Eed Al-Adh-ha. As a matter of fact, no other system in the world as a whole can ensure this amount of food for all people and and the integration of the poor as the Islamic Sharee’ah has done.

Noble and kind Muslims realize that satisfying the needs or people and alleviating poverty are things that accompany every joyful occasion. Thus, ‘Eed includes the meanings of happiness, mercy, and kind and sincere affection. Moreover, history continues to record the attitudes of noble Muslims whose happiness could be complete except by satisfying the needs of the poor and the needy around them. They give them food, clothing and a great deal of money.

‘Eed – with its great scenes and signs – is a golden opportunity to call non-Muslims to Islam and present to them the true nature of Islam through compliments and the Islamic courteous behavior which Allah The Almighty ordered us to adopt in His saying (which means): {Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes - from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.} [Quran 60:8]

‘Eed in Islam is a great integrated ritual. It satisfies both the spiritual and physical needs. ‘Eed crowns the great and significant rituals of worship that Allah The Almighty has enjoined in the month of Ramadan and the months of Hajj. These are the needs of the soul: Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Say, "In the Bounty of Allah and in His Mercy - in that let them rejoice.} [Quran 10:58]

Physical needs and psychological desires that seek entertainment, amusement and play are also satisfied on the occasion of ‘Eed in Islam. Therefore, Islam forbade observing fast on the days of ‘Eed as the happiness of the one who witnesses ‘Eed will not be complete unless he could eat or drink. What can refer to achieving such aims is what Anas narrated saying, "The people during Jaahiliyyah used to have two days in every year when they would amuse themselves. When the Messenger of Allah came to Madeenah, he said:‘Allah has given you instead of them two days that are better than them: the Day of Al-Adh-ha and the Day of Al-Fitr.’"[Abu Daawood and An-Nasaa’i]

Ibn Jareer, in relating the events of the 2^nd year A.H, said, “In it, the Prophet performed the ‘Eed prayer. He went out along with people to the place of prayer. It was the first ‘Eed Prayer that he performed.”

In this way, the Islamic nation became self-sufficient because of its integrated Sharee‘ah (Islamic legislation) and its complete blessings. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And do not follow their inclinations away from what has come to you of the truth. To each of you We prescribed a law and a method. } [Quran 5:48]

Actually, all the days of the life of the Prophet, , were like the days of ‘Eed – full of happiness and joy for all those who dealt and talked with the Prophet, , and followed the light of his religion. Therefore, the meetings of the Prophet, , were full of people of different origins and ages, delegations, groups, leaders, women who came to seek knowledge, the old, the young, and children. All those people came to share the blessing of the Prophet, .

This gift will be available for all people until the Day of Resurrection. Those who will benefit greatly from that are only those who adhere very strictly to the footsteps and the way of the Prophet, . Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Certainly did Allah confer [great] favor upon the believers when He sent among them a Messenger from themselves, reciting to them His verses and purifying them and teaching them the Book and wisdom, although they had been before in manifest error.}[Quran 3:164]

‘Eed in the House of the Prophet - I