FIQH COUNCIL OF NORTH AMERICA STATEMENT Eid al-Adha: After the Day of Hajj
Muslims in general hold two different opinions about the observance of Eid al-Adha: Some believe it should follow local lunar dates, and others that it should follow the Hajj in Mecca. The Fiqh Council, after careful study, has reached the conclusion that Eid al-Adha should follow the day of Hajj as announced in Mecca. This is also the conclusion of the European Council of Fatwa and Research. The following is a summary of a long paper on this subject; those who are interested may refer to the full text on our website. Eid and its Connection to the Pillars of Islam: Both our Eids are closely connected to the pillars of Islam, one to fasting and the other to the pilgrimage The Hajj therefore, is more than just the 4th pillar of Islam; it is in fact a season of worship which begins in Shawwal and ends with the Wuquf of Arafah. The greatjurist Ibn Taymiyyah was of the opinion that this is perhaps why the Prophet (PBUH) proclaimed two days of festivities, one to celebrate its beginning and the other, its end. Then there is reference to the ten days of hajj both in the Qur’an as well as in the Sunnah, and to the fact that these days belong to Islam’s most sacred days. The Texts: Most of the verses and the traditions that address the ritual of Hajj also mention the festival related to it: Baqarah, 2:183-203, for instance, strongly suggests a linkage between the Hajj and the Eid; and Hajj, 28 and 36, directly addresses pilgrims and indirectly addresses all others. Scholarly Opinion: Ibn Taymiyyah says that the animal sacrifice at Mina applies in the first place to pilgrims and thereafter to all others. The famous Hanbali jurist, Hafiz Ibn Rajab explains that the salat of Eid al-Adha should be performed concurrent with the rites being performed during the Hajj. Ahmad bin Hanbal maintained that Eid al-Adha prayer should be offered during the time when pilgrims were moving from Muzdalifah to Mina. Imam al-Bhaghawi quoting Ibn Abbas, Imam Malik and Imam Shafa’ee states that Muslims all over the globe are to follow the timings of Hujjaj vis-à-vis Takbeerat of Tashreeq; this according to Imam al-Sarkhasi was an opinion held by Abu Yusuf as well. Conclusion The Fiqh Council is of the opinion that in the case of Eid al-Adha global unity must prevail over local sightings or calculations. The Council does concede that no clear cut text requires Muslims worldwide to celebrate Eid al-Adha after the day of Hajj. But the evidence cited above, in the view of the Council, makes a compelling argument for connecting local Eid with global Hajj when circumstances permit. This is all the more relevant given that no Islamic text compels Muslims to use local sightings that are at odds with the declared day of Hajj. In addition to being the 4th ritual of Islam, Hajj is also the ultimate expression of global Muslim unity with dimensions that are both political as well as spiritual. The Fiqh Council strongly believes that this important symbol is compromised when global Islam is disunited on this auspicious day of festivity. Given the technology at our disposal today, there is no justification in Islamic law to compromise Muslim unity in deference to the traditional modes of determining local Eid celebrations. http://www.isna.com/events/Special-Announcement/Fiqh-Council-of-North-America-Statement.aspx
