After Ramadan: Zakat-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Fitr and the Six Fasts of Shawwal
1. On the authority of Anas bin Malik, it is reported that Allah’s Apostle never proceeded (for the prayer) on the Day of Eid-ul-Fitr unless he had eaten some dates. Anas also narrated: The Prophet used to eat odd number of dates.
~ Bukhari
2. On the authority of Abu Said Al-Khudri, it is reported that the Prophet used to proceed to the Musalla on the days of Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha; the first thing to begin with was the prayer and after that he would stand in front of the people and the people would keep sitting in their rows. Then he would preach to them, advise them and give them orders.
~ Bukhari
3. On the authority of Ibn Juraij, Ata’ said, “Jabir bin Abdullah said, ‘The Prophet went out on the Day of Eid-ul-Fitr and offered the prayer before delivering the Khutba. Ata’ told me that during the early days of Ibn Az-Zubair, Ibn Abbas had sent a message to him telling him that the Adhan for the Eid Prayer was never pronounced (in the life time of Allah’s Apostle) and the Khutba used to be delivered after the prayer. Ata’ told me that Ibn Abbas and Jabir bin Abdullah, had said that there was no Adhan for the prayer of Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha.’
Ata said, ‘I heard Jabir bin Abdullah saying, ‘The Prophet stood up and started with the prayer, and after it, he delivered the Khutba. When the Prophet of Allah (saws) finished (the Khutba), he went to the women and preached to them, while he was leaning on Bilal’s hand. Bilal was spreading his garment and the ladies were putting alms in it.’”
~ Bukhari
4. It is reported on the authority of Jabir bin Abdullah that on the Day of Eid the Prophet used to return (after offering the Eid prayer) through a way different from that by which he went.
~ Bukhari
5. It has been narrated on the authority of Ibn Umar that the Prophet ordered the people to pay Zakat-ul-Fitr before going to the Eid prayer.
~ Bukhari
6. It has been narrated on the authority of Ibn Umar that Allah’s Apostle made it incumbent on all the slave or free Muslims, male or female, to pay one Sa’ of dates or barley as Zakat-ul-Fitr.
~ Bukhari
7. Abu Ayyub (ra) reported that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “Whoever fasts Ramadan and follows it with six days of Shawwaal, it will be as if he fasted the year through.”
~ Muslim
8. It is related from Thawbân that the Prophet (saws) said: “The fast of Ramadan is like observing ten months of fasting. Fasting six days of Shawwâl is like observing two months of fasting. This together is like fasting throughout the year.”
~ Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah (2115) and Sunan al-Nasa’i al-Kubra (2860);
Authenticated by al-Albani
