Layat ul-Qadr, Sadaqat Al- Fitr and Salat al-Eid: Message from Sh. Ossama.

AsSalam Alaikum,

Layat ul-Qadr

Indeed it is We Who sent this Quran down on the Night of Glory, and what will make you realize what the Night of Glory is? The Night of Glory is better than a thousand months. That night the angels and the holy spirit descend by the permission of their Lord, for every decreed matter. It is all peace until the break of dawn.~Quran 97:1-5 

Laylat ul-Qadr, or the Night of Power, is when the Qur'an was first revealed. The Prophet Muhammad said, “Whoever spends Laylat ul-Qadr in night prayer, out of belief and expecting his reward from Allāh, his previous sins will be forgiven.” [Bukhāri and Muslim] Each one of us should be mindful of the value of each second during the remaining nights of Ramadan with the hope that we will achieve the reward of this special night. 

Sadaqat Al- Fitr

Sadaqat Al-Fitr is an obligatory charity that should be given on behalf of each member in the household in order to achieve two goals. First, to give the vulnerable a chance to celebrate the day of Eid free of concern and to avoid the humiliation of asking for assistance while everyone is celebrating. Also, it serves a type of spiritual purification to cover any shortcomings that may have occurred during the performance of the rituals of Ramadan.

The amount to be paid was measured in food items during the time of our Prophet. At that time it was four double handfuls of a staple food of the city, which at the time were items like dates, barley or raisins. The current value will vary between $10-20, depending on which food item is being given and the quality of such food.

Though it is permissible to be paid up to the time of Salat al-Eid, ICN will not accept and be able to distribute any funds that are received after Friday the 22nd Noon. We will accept up through the 22nd, allowing us time to qualify recipients and distribute to those in need the following days before Eid. 

Sadaqat al-Fitr may be paid in any amount of $10 and above (per each member of the household) and sent in the following ways:  

Sadaqat al-Fitr may be paid in any amount of $10 and above (per each member of the household) and sent in the following ways:  

• Online (Credit/Debit/PayPal/Bank Draft): https://icn.kindful.com/campaigns/342775

• PayPal: send to donate@icntn.org

• Mail a Check: ​Payable to ICN, Memo: Zakat Al Fitr, Address: 2515 12th Ave S., Nashville, TN, 37204

• Drop off a Check: Drop off your check in the mail box at ICN front door

• Have your Bank send a Bill Pay Check: ​Payable to Islamic Center of Nashville, Memo: Zakat Al Fitr, Address: 2515 12th Ave S., Nashville, TN, 37204

Salat al-Eid

Due to the COVID-19 crisis we are encouraging our members to pray Ṣalāt al-Eid in their homes with their own families (or individually in case one is living by oneself), and a khutbah is not required. 

The steps for performing Salat al-Eid:

• Begin by making takbeer after the sunset on the last day of Ramadan (Saturday 05/23) until the time of performing Eid salat in the morning.

• Pray Fajr prayer. (Eid salat is NOT a replacement of Fajr prayer)

• Shower and wear your best outfit.

• Make takbeer with your family and eat some dates or any accessible food.

• Around 8:00 a.m. and after making Wudu, lead your family in two rakat. After the 1st Takbeerh of the salat make Takbeer seven more times before reciting al-Fatahah. Resume your salat normally and after standing from sajud make Takbeer five times and complete your Salat as normal. Different Schools of Thought have various opinions regarding the number of Takbeerat, all is acceptable.  

• The recitation of Salat al-Eid is an aloud recitation. 

• There is not a Khutbah for Slat al-Eid while praying at home. 

Activities for Eid

Although we will not have our normal large gathering, we should still celebrate Eid as days of happiness. We are in the stage of collecting ideas that would promote excitement and happiness during the days of Eid. Please send any thoughts and ideas you may have to: director@icntn.org and imam@icntn.org

Sincerely,

Imam Ossama Bahloul PhD

Resident Scholar of ICN

imam@icntn.org

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