Lekan Paul

POLITICS

Governor Bindow Debunks Alleged Plan To Defect To PDP

Adamawa State Governor, Jibrilla Bindow, yesterday insisted that he has no reasons to defect from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said reports on his alleged defection were malicious and baseless.

The governor said that since President Muhammadu Buhari has done tremendously well, there was no basis for him to leave APC for another party.

He said he remains steadfast in the bid for President Buhari’s re-election come 2019 and fully committed to the APC ideals.

The governor spoke in a statement through his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Macaulay Hunohashi.

The statement reads: “Over the last three years, we have shown commitment to the yearnings of the good people of Adamawa State to improve their standard of living through progressive implementations of agriculture, health, education, peace and security, water supply, youth and women empowerment programmes as well as infrastructural development.

“And what is especially pleasing for me is that the people of the state recognise and appreciate our efforts to make Adamawa a better place for them and therefore they have supported this administration in every way possible.

“At the national level, President Buhari has done tremendously well for this country in security, economy, fight against corruption, employment, health, education and infrastructural development.

“Like I have said many times in the past, President Buhari is the best thing to happen to this country. He means well for Nigeria. He is passionate about this country. He is trying to get a great future for Nigerians So what reasons do I have to defect?”

He said  false defection plan reports were  planted by some politicians in order  to malign him and cause mischief.

“These reports are plotted by some politicians who desperately want him to join the opposition. They should dump the opposition parties and join me in APC as they are so fixated to be in the same party with me.

“They are always welcome to join me in the APC”.

POLITICS

Presidential Race: Ganduje Challenges Kwankwaso To Launch Campaign In Kano
Concerned by the many chances of President Muhammadu Buhari in winning his re-election bid for 2019 presidential contest, the Kano state governor Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has challenged the former governor Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso to come to Kano and launch his presidential campaign for the forthcoming general election.
Assuring that, Kano is not and will never be ready to welcome Kwankwaso as Kano people have every constitutional right to make their democratic choices. “And we have all the rights to reject him at wish. We have already rejected him. We never considered him from day one, as a presidential material. We shall continue to maintain our position about him. We know nobody but President Muhammadu Buhari.”
Stressing that, “We, the great people of Kano, as he is aware will use every democratic way possible to reject him (Kwankwaso) and show him an exit from political participation, even before the general election comes our way.”
Ganduje put forth the challenge at an event of Money Transfer to empower women held at government house, kano, where 6,600 women drawn from the 44 local governments of the state were given the sum of N15,000 each.
“We in Kano, we came across the demise of distinguished personalities, of which he chose not to come and we had fire outbreaks in some of our markets and this man did not care to come and sympathise with the victims,” he condemned.
When some of the popular markets in Kano experienced fire disaster Ganduje said, “We raised a special committee that was given the responsibility of finding the remote causes of such disaster as well as given the mandate to collect contributions so as to alleviate some of the sufferings of the victims.”
To his surprise, Ganduje further challenged “We included as a member of the committee, somebody, a staunch follower of Kwankwaso. But this man didn’t allow that person to participate in all the meetings of the committee. Neither did he send a penny as his contribution.”
Adding that when those that care about Kano made their contributions and the state gave out contribution, at that point in time, Ganduje said, “Somebody will just wait somewhere telling his people that they should stay clear of anything about Kano. Is this how you want lead people?  Where is thw concern?
He then asked rhetorically, “Kano people, I am asking you, does this man really has any concern for you and your families? All we are saying is, in whose interest is he doing all these things? This man doesn’t have, even an iota of feeling about Kano people, at all.”
“Because he knows that he is not welcomed in Kano and he will be never be welcomed, that was why he chooses to stay away from our dear state and go somewhere, other places, not Kano, and be launching his unorganised and unpopular campaign,” Ganduje emphasises.
He reminded that, “Kano is solely for Buhari come 2019, not any other person. That is why we said we are waiting for him to come to Kano and launch his campaign. We shall use all democratically accepted ways and say No!
On the empowerment programme Ganduje said, “We are doing this to help in uplifting your living standard. To also make you self-reliant. It is known to all of you that we have greater concern for you and your families.”
“This we are doing in compliance with President Muhammadu Buhari’s spirit of human development. We believe that, any step taken by our dear President, deserves to be followed at any given time,” he concludes.
NEWS

FCT Commences Investigation Into Collapsed Building

The Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA says it will soon commence investigation into the recently collapsed Jabi building in the nation’s capital, Abuja.

The Co-ordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, AMMC, Mr Umar Shuaibu said this while briefing journalists at the site of the collapsed building on Saturday in Abuja.

Mr Shuaibu said six persons had been rescued with various degrees of injuries and had been rushed to a nearby hospital, with one death recorded so far.

He described the incidence as unfortunate and assured that adequate measures would be taken to prevent any future occurrence.

“This is an accident. What happened is an unfortunate incidence. We have this kind of building collapse occurrence all over the world, not only in Nigeria.

“We are going to start our investigations now; we are going to take adequate measures to prevent any future occurrence.

“We have passed the first phase, the next phase is evacuating these rubbles and we implore the general public not to be here.

“There are so many scavengers around, so we are going to instruct security agencies that anybody they catch around this area should be arrested,’’ he said.

NEWS

3rd Mainland bridge To Be Temporarily Shut For 4 Days – LASG

The Lagos State Government has said that the 3rd Mainland Bridge will be temporarily shut down for four days, starting from midnight of August 23 to midnight of August 26, 2018 for Investigative Maintenance Test to be carried out.

The State’s Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr Ade Akinsanya said that the decision was taken after due consultation with the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing.

The four-day closure, according to Akinsanya, would enable the contractors assess the true state of the bridge after which works would commence by the end of the year or early 2019.

“The 3rd Mainland Bridge which was opened about 30 years ago by the then military government has had haphazard maintenance and repairs in the past which the present Federal Government is committed to correct by carrying out proper and continuous maintenance and repairs on it,”Akinsanya stated.

NEWS

Nigeria Now Has The Largest Foreign Reserve In Africa

Nigeria is leading three major African countries in foreign reserves as at Monday, May 7, 2018, as the country’s gross earnings hit $47.80 billion, according to data seen by Business Insider Sub-Saharan African from the nation’s central bank.

Nigeria, which recently emerged from its worst economic recession in over 25 years with less than $21 billion in foreign reserves, has built up its reserves massively over one and half years to become largest in Africa by beating South Africa, Ghana, and Kenya in external reserves with total net reserves of $47,804,549,761.

Edward Adamu, CBN’s Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, while speaking at the 25th seminar for Business Editors and financial Correspondents in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, had said that the apex bank hopes to meet the $50 billion target before the end of the year.

The increase in the country’s foreign earnings has helped the Central Bank of Nigeria to sustain forex interventions and reduce pressure on the local currency against major international currencies including the dollar.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s reserves fell to $43.115 billion in April 2018 from $43.384 billion in March 2018.

The Reserve Bank on Tuesday, May 8, 2018, said the forward position, which represents the central bank’s unsettled or swap transactions, was lower at 1.933 billion dollars from 1.996 billion dollars in the previous month.

“The decrease of 440 million dollars in the gross reserves reflects the foreign exchange payments made on behalf of the government and the appreciation of the U.S. dollar against most currencies,” the Reserve bank said.

PULSE

NEWS

Eid-El-Kabir: IGP Orders Massive Deployment Of Personnel

The Inspector-General of Police ( I-G), Mr Ibrahim Idris has directed the deployment of additional personnel and crime prevention and detection equipment for a robust security arrangements throughout the country during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

A statement by the Force Spokesman, acting DCP Jimoh Moshood on Sunday in Abuja, said the arrangement is aimed at ensuring a hitch-free celebration.

Moshood said that Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police in zonal and State Commands nationwide would be on ground to beef up security at Eid praying grounds.

“The ongoing raid operations and removal of suspected criminals will continue throughout the Sallah period and beyond,” he said.

He said that the deployment would also cover recreation centres, public places and critical infrastructure and public utilities.

Moshood said that Federal Highway Patrol Teams, the Safer Highway Patrol Units, and Anti-Crime Patrols have been deployed along Highways and major roads throughout the country to provide security for commuters.

“They are under strict instructions to be civil, polite, compassionate and firm in carryout their duties.

“Intense surveillance/Intelligence gathering will be maintained, special deployment and stop and search duties will be in place at all flash/vulnerable points in every state of the Country,” he said.

He enjoined members of the public, especially travellers and other roads users to cooperate with the police personnel deployed on the Highways and other duty posts.

“The I-G wishes the Muslims faithful and other Nigerians happy Eid-el-Kabir celebration,”he said.

NEWS

Borno Governor Debunks Alleged Bombing Of Dam By Insurgents

Governor Kashim Shettima has dispelled speculations that a dam in Alau town, a distance of about five km from Maiduguri in Borno state, had been bombed by boko haram insurgents.

Following the over-flow of water from the dam, locals of the town had circulated stories that insurgents had destroyed the dam.

Shettima, who dispelled the rumor on Sunday, after a tour of the facility with Brig.-Gen. Bulama Biu, Acting GOC 7 Div. Maiduguri, said the damage was caused by lack of maintenance.

Shettima said that it was one of the embankments that was slightly washed away by water.

“Our findings reveal that one of the embankments got washed away, embankments that require regular maintenance.

“The GOC (7 Div) was there early this morning; he assessed it and has pictures of what happened to that particular embankment,” he said.

NEWS

Presidency Refutes Blame For Delay In Supplementary Budget Passage

The Presidency says it is not responsible for the delay in approving the country’s supplementary budget, part of which is to finance the 2019 general election.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu made the declaration in a statement he issued on Sunday night.

He said: “The Presidency wishes to respond to the false to accusations by Senator Bukola Saraki who alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari is to blame for the delay in approving the supplementary budget for INEC. “

The Presidential spokesman said the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma had given the legislators prior notice that the budget of the country’s electoral body, INEC would be presented in the form of a supplementary budget.

Shehu stated that in line with budgetary provisions, there was no way the supplementary budget would have been presented before the passing of the main budget appropriation bill by the National Assembly.

“It is not true that INEC submitted their draft budget to the Presidency in February. No, it came much later but even then, this is not the real issue.

“The fact that their proposals came well after the President had laid his budget for the year 2018 before the National Assembly meant that their own will be sent as supplementary budget. This was clearly stated to them by the Minister of Budget and National Planning.”

He continued:“A supplementary budget cannot be submitted until the main budget is passed, and so the delay in passing the main budget was the reason for the delay. The National Assembly passed the 2018 budget seven months after the document was submitted to the National Assembly by President Buhari.

“Unless someone has forgotten, the budget was submitted to the National Assembly and it took the Saraki-led National Assembly seven months to release it. There is no way President Buhari could have submitted a supplementary budget while the main one was still pending. It is never done. Because Saraki did not return the main budget; we could not have submitted the supplementary one,” he explained.

Giving further reasons for the delayed submission of the supplementary budget, the media aide said: “After the long delays, the President was pained to sign the much distorted, butchered and debauched document. In giving his assent, President Buhari said that he was compelled to sign the budget so as not to keep the economy continuously on a standstill.”

Quoting the President, Garba Shehu said: “When I submitted the 2018 Budget proposals to the National Assembly on 7th November 2017, I had hoped that the usual legislative review process would be quick, so as to move Nigeria towards a predictable January-December financial year.”

 Shehu concluded: “It is also worthy of note that this is the first time in Nigeria’s history that a government would bring together the cost of an election in one budget, with each agency involved invited to defend their portion of the budget before the National Assembly.

“It is all part of the transparency that this government is known for. In the past, governments would approve INEC budgets and funding without a breakdown, often using ways and means to fund it; not so under President Buhari.”

NEWS

No New Date For Botched By-Election In Rivers- REC

The Resident Electoral Commissioner of Rivers State, Mr. Obo Effanga, says it is not certain when the Port Harcourt constituency 3 by-election would be concluded.

Widespread violence led to the suspension of the elections on Saturday.

Effanga said this on Sunday while addressing reporters.

He said the Commission would continue to conduct credible elections in the state, in spite of the roles played by the armed security personnel, whom he alleged accompanied hoodlums to disrupt the exercise yesterday.

Also speaking, Akwa Ibom state REC, Mike Igini, who was in Rivers to assist with the polls, estimated 100 out of 142 polling units used for the election witnessed violence.

He said one NEC staff was stabbed while another was beaten by hoodlums, while a Corps member had a fracture on the leg bone.

Cyril Omorogbe, Bayelsa State REC was also in Rivers for the exercise.

NEWS

252 Aides To Gov Tambuwal Resign

Two hundred and fifty two  Special advisers and Special assistants appointed by Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state have resigned their appointments.

And they have returned to the All Progressives Congress, instead of working under a PDP government.

Alhaji Ibrahim Haske, a special adviser to the governor and spokesman for all the aides, announced this at a news conference in Sokoto on Sunday.

He said their decision followed  Gov. Tambuwal’s defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“Our appointment is based on the position that APC is the political party governing the state and now that the government belongs to PDP, we have no option other than to resign.

“We are bonafide members of APC and our position has always remained same; we, therefore, resign voluntarily from the PDP government,” Haske said.

Haske, who was a former Sokoto South Local Government Chairman, further explained the decision was based on their desire to support APC to deliver on its mandate after the  2019 general elections.

Alhaji Abdullahi Sokoto, also a special adviser to Tambuwal,  restated the former aides’  commitment and dedication toward ensuring the success of APC across the state.

“We will continue to remain in our party APC and as such, we sacrifice our political appointments to clarify people’s doubt and show our stand on party supremacy.”

He restated the group’s loyalty and support to the policies and programme of the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of APC.

In his reaction, the APC Chairman in the state, Alhaji Sadiq Achida, commended the former aides to Gov. Tambuwal for their demonstration of loyalty to the party.

He said, “the sacrifice of the Special advisers is highly recommended and will surely be rewarded by the people and APC in future.”

POLITICS

Rivers APC Urges INEC To Conclude Suspended By-Election

The Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, has noted with disappointment the hasty decision of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to suspend Saturday’s Port Harcourt Local Government Area [PHALGA] Constituency 3 bye-election process at the collation stage.

The APC in a statement made available to journalists today by the party’s spokesman, Mr. Chris Finebone said: “It is unfortunate that what should be a mere state constituency bye-election witnessed pockets of voter intimidation, harassment, vote-buying and shooting activated by the PDP in line with their usual character of rigging elections through killing and maiming of APC members.”

The statement reads: “It is worthy of note that security agents gallantly rose to the occasion and effectively quelled the pockets of violence that threatened the exercise in some wards in the constituency, leading to the eventual collation of results at the St. Andrew’s premises.

 “However, APC and the general public were later to be informed that INEC has suspended the process at the point of collation of results. We want to believe that the suspension is to allow INEC officials to sort itself out and conclude the process accordingly. As a political party, APC is not questioning the judgment or discretionary powers of INEC to make decisions about the bye-election, however, such decisions must strictly conform to relevant laws guiding the system and specifically do not include cancellation of a process that has commenced.

“However, it is pertinent to remind INEC and reassure APC members and the public that, when it comes to any election process that has commenced, the powers of INEC end at suspension of the process for evaluation and eventual conclusion. Such powers do not include cancellation as widely and erroneously peddled. It is only the tribunal or court that can decide on the cancellation of such a process on approach by relevant stakeholders.

 “The APC views the wording of the memo suspending the PHALGA 3 bye-election as substantially mendacious, unnecessarily alarmist and generally convoluted with sinister innuendos by the author in a way that does not represent an accurate assessment of the process so far. We hope that INEC will not be misled to derail or embark on a line of action that will leave her with a legal bad nose. This will neither be to the benefit of INEC nor the system in any way.

“In view of the need to timeously conclude the bye-election process and douse the anxiety of voters in the constituency, APC calls on INEC to swiftly and fairly do the needful and subsequently conclude the process and declare the result accordingly. It must be emphasised that INEC has no luxury of options over the matter than to audit the process up to the collation stage when the process was suspended and direct action towards bringing the process to a conclusion.

“Meanwhile, the APC reassured its members in PHALGA Constituency 3 and across Rivers State to be calm and go about their normal lives as INEC has no option than to do the right thing by auditing and subsequently concluding the election process it suspended at the collation stage.”

FAITH

Celebrating The Eid-ul-Adha, Day Of Sacrifice And Greatest Day Of Hajj, By Imam Murtadha Gusau

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger.

Tomorrow Tuesday, the tenth day of Dhul-Hajj is the greatest day of Hajj (Yawm al-Hajj al-Akbar). It is also known as Yawm an-Nahr (the Day of Sacrifice), since it marks the ending of the major rite of Hajj – the Sacrifice. And it is on this day that the Muslims commemorate the bounties and blessings of Allah. It was recorded in a Hadith by Imam Ahmad (in his Musnad vol. 4 no. 350) that the day of Nahr is the most virtuous day to Allah. The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said:

“The greatest Day of Hajj (Yawm al-Hajj al-Akbar) is the Day of an-Nahr (Slaughtering).” [Sahih, by Shaikh al-Albani in Irwa al-Ghalil, no. 1101. And Sunan Abu Dawud no. 1945]

Imam Ibn Taymiyyah said:

“The most excellent day of the week is the day of Jumu’ah (Friday), by the agreement and consensus of the Scholars (Ulama). And the most excellent day of the year is the day of an-Nahr. And some of them said that it is the day of Arafah. However, the first opinion is the correct one, since it is related in the Sunan collections that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: “The most excellent days with Allah is the day of an-Nahr, then the day that the Muslims reside in Mina.” [Sahih, by Shaikh al-Albani in Irwa al-Ghalil no. 2018. Also Related by Abu Dawud in his Sunan no. 1765. See also Majmu’ al-Fatawa vol. 25, Page 288]

The day of An-Nahr is also known as Eid-al-Adha, meaning the festival of Sacrifice and it is one of the two festivals which Allah has granted to the Ummah of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). Anas (RA) narrated:

“Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) came to Madinah and the people of Madinah in the days of Jahiliyyah had two days of play and amusement. So, Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) said: “I came to you and you had in Jahiliyyah, two days of play and amusement. Allah has replaced something better for you; the Day of an-Nahr and the day of al-Fitr.” [Sahih, by Hafiz Ibn Hajr Al-asqalani, in Bulugh al-Maram. And also related by Imam Ahmad in Musand, vol. 3, no. 103]

The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said:

“The day of al-Fitr, and the day of an-Nahr, and the days of at-Tashriq (the three days after an-Nahr) are our days of Eid (festivity); and they are days of eating and drinking.” [Sahih, by Shaikh al-Albani in Sahih al-Jami’, no. 8192. Also Related by Ahmad in Musnad, no. 1945]

At the end of the Hajj (Annual pilgrimage to Makkah), Muslims throughout the world celebrate the holiday of Eid-ul-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice). In this year (2018), Eid-ul-Adha will begin on Tuesday, August 21st, and will last for three days, ending on the evening of August 24th, 2018.ass

– What Do Muslims Do to Celebrate The Eid-ul-Adha?

On the first morning of Eid-ul-Adha, Muslims around the world attend morning prayers at their local praying grounds. Prayers are followed by visits with family and friends, and the exchange of greetings and gifts. At some point, members of the family will visit a local farm or otherwise will make arrangements for the slaughter of an animal. The meat is distributed during the days of the holiday or shortly thereafter.

– Glorifying Allah with Takbir in these days (Takbir al-Muqayyad)

From the Subh/Fajr prayer of the day of Arafah until the Asr prayer of the 13th day of Dhul-Hajj, one should make Takbir after every obligatory Salah (prayer). Ibn Abi Shaibah relates that:

“Ali (RA) used to make the Takbir beginning after the Fajr/Subh prayer on the day of Arafah, until after the Asr prayer on the last day of at-Tashriq.” [Sahih, by Shaikh al-Albani in al-Irwa, and also Related by Ibn Abi Shaibah in al-Musannaf]

Imam Ibn Taymiyyah said:

“The most correct saying concerning the Takbir – that which the majority of the Salaf (Pious Predecessors), and the Scholars from the Companions and Imams were upon – is to begin making the Takbir from Fajr (dawn) on the day of Arafah up until the last day of at-Tashriq (the thirteenth of Dhul-Hajj), after every Prayer.” [See Majmu al-Fatawa, vol. 24 page 220]

Imam al-Khattabi said:

“The wisdom behind saying the Takbir in these days is that in the time of Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic ignorance), they used to slaughter for their false objects of worship and idols. So the Takbirs were prescribed in order to indicate that the act of slaughtering is directed to Allah alone, and by mentioning only His Name.” [See Fath al-Bari of Imam Ibn Hajar Al-asqalani]

As regards to the actual wording of the Takbirs, then nothing has been related from the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him). However, the following have been reported from his Sahabah (his Companions):

1. Ibn Mas’ud (RA) reported:

“Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar wa lillahil-Hamd.” [Sahih, Irwa al-Ghalil 650, Imam Daraqutni and Ibn Abi Shaibah]

Meaning:

“Allah is the greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, and there is none worthy of worship except Allah. Allah is the Greatest; Allah is the Greatest and to Allah belongs all praises.”

2. Ibn Abbas (RA) reported:

“Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar wa lillahil-Hamd; Allahu Akbar wa-ajal, Allahu Akbar ala ma hadana.” [Sahih – Baihaqi, vol. 3 page 315]

Meaning:

“Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, and Allah is the Greatest and to Allah belongs all praises. Allah is the Greatest to that which He has guided us to.”

3. Salman (RA) reported:

“Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar kabiran.” [Sahih – Baihaqi, vol. 3 page 316]

Meaning:

“Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, and Allah is the Greatest.”

Allah says in the Noble Qur’an:

“Increase in these days with Tahlil, Takbir and Tahmid (Takbir al-Mutlaq). And mention the name of Allah on the appointed Days.” [Surah al-Hajj, 22:28]

This verse has been explained by Tafsir’s scholars to mean the ten days of Dhul-Hajj. Scholars consider it desirable to increase Zikr (remembrance of Allah) in these days, because the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) is reported to have said:

“There are no days that are greater to Allah or in which deeds are more beloved to Him than these ten days, so increase your Tahlil, Takbir and Tahmid during these days.” [Musnad of Imam Ahmad]

Tahlil, Takbir and Tahmid means saying ‘La ilaha illallah’, ‘Allahu Akbar’ and ‘Alhamdulillah’, respectively.

Ishaq narrates from the scholars of the Tabi’in that in these ten days they used to say:

Allahu-Akbar, Allahu-Akbar; La-ilaha-illallah; wallahu-Akbar, Allahu-Akbar; wa-lillahil-hamd.

It is also a beloved act (mustahab) to raise the voice when saying the Takbir, in the markets, the houses, the offices, the streets, the masjids (mosques), and other places, because of the saying of Allah, the Most High in Surah al-Hajj verse 37:

“…that you may magnify Allah for His guidance to you…”

Imam al-Bukhari said in the book of al-Eids (two Eids prayers) in the chapter of the Virtue of good deeds during the days of Tashriq:

“Abdullah Ibn Umar and Abu Hurairah (RA) would go out in the marketplace during the ten days and say Takbirs, and the people would say Takbirs when they said Takbir.” [Sahih al-Bukhari]

The Sunnah is to say the Takbirs individually. The saying of Takbirs in congregation, i.e., everyone pronouncing the Takbirs with one voice, is not permissible since this has not been transmitted (to us) from the early generations of the Sahabah and those who followed their ways. And this is applicable for all Zikr and supplications, except if the person doesn’t know what to say. In that case he may repeat after someone else until he learns (the words to be said).

Narrated al-Barra’ (Allah be pleased with him) that he heard the Prophet (Peace be upon him) delivering a Khutbah (Sermon), saying:

“The first thing to be done on this day (i.e. first day of Eid-ul-Adha) is to pray (Eid prayer); and after returning from the prayer we slaughter our sacrifices (in the name of Allah), and whoever does so, he has acted according to our Sunnah.” [Kitabul Eids in Sahih Bukhari]

Eid-ul-Adha is celebrated on the 10th through 13th day of Dhul-Hajj, and in the 12th month of the lunar calendar. Many of the rituals related to the Eid directly commemorate the sacrifices of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and his family for the sake of Allah. On the way to the Eid prayer, while waiting for it and on the way back from the prayer one should recite the following Takbirs as much as possible:

“Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar wa lil-lahil-hamd.”

Meaning:

“Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest; there is no god except Allah; and Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest and for Allah is all praise.”

Also it is the tradition of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) to go to the Eid prayer by one way and return by another. And don’t forget, the Takbiraat at-Tashriq above is also to be recited after every fard (compulsory) prayer, beginning from the Fajr prayer of the 9th to the Asr prayer of the 13th of Dhul-Hajj (that is 23 times in all), as mentioned earlier. The following actions are also Sunnah on the day of Eid:

1. To clean the teeth with miswak (or its equivalent, like toothbrush).

2. To take a bath.

3. To adorn oneself and dress in the best clothes that are available and are permitted in Shari’ah.

4. To use perfume.

5. To rise early and go to the prayer grounds early.

6. To walk to the prayer grounds if possible and to recite the takbir above.

7. Nothing is to be eaten before the prayer of Eid-ul-Adha, unlike Eid-ul-Fitr.

8. No Nafilah prayers should be prayed at the Eid prayer ground, neither before nor after the Eid prayer.

– Procedure of the Eid Prayer

Eid-ul-Adha Prayer consists of two Raka’ahs in congregation. The procedure of the prayer is as follows:

First, make the niyyah (intention) for the Eid Salah (prayer). Then the Imam says Allahu Akbar (and the followers do so after him). Then the hands are folded as in other prayers and read the Du’a al–istiftah as follows:

“Subhanakallahummah wa bi hamdika, wa tabarakas-muka wa ta’ala jadduka wa la ilaha ghairuka.”

Meaning:

“O Allah! Glory and Praise are for You, and blessed is Your name, and exalted is Your majesty; and there is no god except You.”

Then Allahu Akbar is said seven times, every time raising the hands to the ears and dropping them except the last time when they are folded. Then the Imam recites the Ta’awwudh and Bismillah quietly and then recites Surah Fatiha and another Surah (Preferably Surah Al-A’la or Surah Qaf). Then Ruku’u and Sujud are performed as in other prayers. In the second Raka’ah, the Imam recites Bismillah quietly and then Surah Fatiha and another Surah loudly (Preferably Surah Al-Ghashiyah or Surah Al-Qamar) and then say Allahu Akbar five times, each time raising the hands to the ears and dropping them. Then the congregation goes into Ruku’u, Sujud and finishes the prayer as any other. After the Eid prayer is completed, the Imam stands up and gives Khutbah (Sermon) in Arabic, as was the practice of the Prophet (Peace be upon him). He can translate it in the local language for people to understand the message in the Sermon.

– Some selected Hadiths from Sahih al-Bukhari in the Chapter of the Two Eids:

Narrated Aisha (RA) that Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) said:

“There is an Eid for every nation and this is our Eid.”

Narrated Abdullah bin Umar (RA) that Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) used to offer the prayer of Eid-ul-Adha and Eid-ul-fitr and then deliver the Khutbah (Sermon) after the prayer.

Narrated Ibn Abbas (RA) that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

“No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first 10 days of Dhul-Hajj).” Then some Companions of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: “Not even Jihad?” He replied, “Not even jihad, except that of a man who does it by putting himself and his property in danger (for Allah’s sake) and does not return with any of those things.”

Narrated Jabir Ibn Abdullah (RA) that:

“On the day of Eid, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) used to return (from the prayer) through a way different from that by which he went.”

Narrated Urwah, on the authority of Aisha (RA) that:

“On the days of Mina (11th, 12th and 13th of Dhul-Hajj) Abu Bakr (RA) came to her while two girls were beating the tambourine and the Prophet (Peace be upon him) was lying covered with his clothes. Abu Bakr (RA) scolded them and the Prophet (Peace be upon him) uncovered his face and said to Abu Bakr, “Leave them, for these days are the days of Eid and the days of Mina.”

– The Slaughtering Of Sacrificial Animals

According to Imam Abu Hanifah, the slaughtering is a wajib. For Abu Hanifah, a wajib is more than a Sunnah and less than a fard (Obligatory or Compulsory). The other Imams consider a wajib to mean fard (obligatory).

Therefore, he sees that it is wajib for those people who are capable to do it according to the Hadith:

“Whoever has the ability to slaughter and he doesn’t, then let him not come near our prayer area.”

So Abu Hanifah took from this Hadith that it was a wajib. But if we cannot consider it as a wajib, at least it is a Sunnah Mu’akkadah and in it is a great bounty.

Its time of occurrence (the Slaughtering) is after Salatul-Eid (Eid Prayer), meaning the earliest salatul-Eid that has been performed in your area. After which, it is permissible to make the sacrifice. If it is done before that, it is not considered an Eid sacrifice (Layyah).

For the Prophet (Peace be upon him) commanded the one who performs the slaughtering before the Eid prayer to consider his sheep as a “sheep of meat” and not as a “sheep of worship.” Even if he gave all of it in charity he will only be rewarded for it the reward of charity, not the reward for slaughtering for the Eid. For slaughtering is an act of worship and the acts of worship if they have a fixed time and condition then it is not befitting for it to be performed early or late, like the daily prayers. For example, is it permissible for you to pray Zuhr before its appointed time? The answer to this question is a big and capital No! So it is with the slaughtering of the Eid, it has its specified time too.

Some people in certain places slaughter their animal the night before the Eid. This is incorrect and a misplacement of the Sunnah, as well as a loss of the reward that it contains. If this person realizes his mistake in time, especially if he made a vow to slaughter (then it is obligatory for him), he should repeat it in the correct time after the Eid prayer. It is also permissible to slaughter on the second and third day of the Eid. It is best to slaughter before the sun reaches its zenith (Zawal). If the time for Zuhr comes and he has not performed the slaughter it is better to wait till the second day to do it. Some of the Imams have said that it is permissible after that during the day or even the night.

For this reason I see that it is not absolutely necessary that everybody slaughters on the first day because there will be a lot of crowding at the site of the slaughtering. So, it is possible that some people can delay their slaughtering until the second or third day. Wallahu ‘Alam.

– What is the Proper Animal for Slaughter?

Camels, cows, ram, sheep and goats are the proper animal to use for slaughtering because they are considered livestock (Bahimatul An’am). So it is permissible to slaughter from any of these types. The sheep can be used for one, meaning a man and the members of his household. As the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

“This is on behalf of Muhammad and his family.”

Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (RA) has said:

“During the time of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) a man used to slaughter one sheep for himself and his family until it came to the point that people competed with each other and they became what you now see.”

As for cows and camels, 1/7 of either of them is sufficient for one person, so it is possible and permissible that 7 people could share one camel or one cow with the condition that the cow is not less than two years old or the camel less than five years old.

The better the quality of the animal used for slaughtering with regards to its size and condition, the better. That is because it is a gift to Allah, Mighty and Majesty. Therefore, it is befitting for the Muslim to present to Allah the best possible thing. As for one giving to Allah what he himself would dislike, then no, this is not appropriate. But in the end, know that:

“It is not their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, rather, it is the piety of the hearts that reaches Him.” [Al-Qur’an]

– The Position Of Praying Jumu’ah When The Eid Falls On A Friday

Imam Abu Dawud in his Sunan collected narrations for the subject of praying the Jumu’ah prayer if the Eid falls on Friday. He began placing these Hadiths right after a series of Hadith that mention the categories of people excused from Jumu’ah:

* Zaid Ibn Arqam

Ilyas Ibn AbuRamlah ash-Shami said:

“I witnessed Mu’awiyah Ibn Abu Sufyan asking Zaid Ibn Arqam: Did you offer along with the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) the Friday and Eid prayers fell on the same day? He said: Yes. He asked: How did he do? He replied: He offered the Eid prayer, then granted concession to offer the Friday prayer, and said: If anyone wants to offer it, he may offer it.”

* Abdullah Ibn Abbas

Ata’ Ibn Abi Rabah said:

“Ibn Az-Zubair led us in the Eid prayer on Friday early in the morning. When we went to offer the Friday, he did not come out to us. So we prayed by ourselves alone. At that time Ibn Abbas was present in at-Ta’if. When he came to us, we mentioned this (incident) to him. He said: He followed the Sunnah.”

* Ata’ said:

“The Friday and the Eid prayers occurred during the time of Ibn Az-Zubair. He said: Two festivals (Eid and Friday) both fell on the same day. He combined them and offered two Raka’ahs in the morning and did not add anything until he offered the afternoon (Asr) prayer.”

* Abu Hurairah

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

“Two festivals (Eid and Friday) have both fell on this day. If anyone does not want to offer the Friday prayer, then the Eid prayer is enough for him. But we shall offer the Friday prayer.”

Benefits in this Subject:

Shaykh Muhammad Nasiruddin Al-Albani graded all these narrations as being authentic.

He said:

“If anyone wants to offer it, he may offer it.” ‘Shows that when the Jumu’ah and Eid fall on the same day the excuse to not attend Jumu’ah is allowed only to the one who makes Eid prayer.”‘

He said:

“He followed the Sunnah.” ‘Shows the Eid is given preference, perhaps because it’s the yearly Eid and Jumu’ah comes weekly.”‘

He said:

“Led us in the Eid prayer on Friday early in the morning. When we went to offer the Friday, he did not come out to us.” ‘Shows that the Eid prayer is done before Jumu’ah.”‘

He said:

“Ibn Az-Zubair led us in the Eid prayer on Friday early in the morning. When we went to offer the Friday, he did not come out to us.” Al-Amir As-San’ani said: “This doesn’t prove Ibn Zubair didn’t pray until Asr, just because he didn’t go out with them for prayer, and this doesn’t mean he didn’t pray alone in his house.”

He said:

“Ibn Az-Zubair led us in the Eid prayer on Friday early in the morning. When we went to offer the Friday, he did not come out to us.” ‘Is proof that the Eid prayer is offered in the countryside or in an open area, and not in the Masjid.”‘

He said:

“Ibn Az-Zubair led us in the Eid prayer on Friday early in the morning. When we went to offer the Friday, he did not come out to us.” Shaykh Ibn Rislan said: “This implies that since the regular Imam didn’t come out every one prayed the Zuhr independently.”

He said:

“Ibn Abbas was present in at-Ta’if..” ‘Ibn Abbas lived in Ta’if and died there in 68 Hijrah at the age of seventy years old.’

He said:

“He followed the sunnah.” Al-Amir said: “Ibn Abbas’s speech means he followed the sunnah by not going to offer Jumu’ah and not holding is Jumu’ah when the Eid falls on a Friday isn’t an innovation (Bid’ah).”

He said:

“If anyone wants to offer it, he may offer it.” ‘This establishes that a person has the option to offer Jumu’ah or not; however, if he doesn’t offer Jumu’ah then he must still pray Zuhr. Since there is a consensus among the scholars that whoever misses Jumu’ah must offer Zuhr; as Jumu’ah takes the place of the Zuhr.”‘

He said:

“…and did not add anything to them until he offered the afternoon prayer.” ‘It could be inferred that they offered the Eid prayer they didn’t offer anything else until Asr. And this position has been reported to have been practiced by Az-Zubair and Ali Ibn Abi Talib. However what’s established is just because the Imam didn’t come to the Masjid doesn’t mean he didn’t pray as Imam Al-Amir mentioned.”‘

Imam Ash-Shafi’i held the position that the excuse to miss Jumu’ah was only for those who lived far away based on a Hadith with a broken chain from a Tabi’i on the Prophet. This makes it weak since the Tabi’i didn’t meet the Prophet. Also, this argument is rejected based on Ibn Abbas’s words “This is the Sunnah“, for those who didn’t go out and pray Jumu’ah.

So if the Eid and Jumu’ah both coincided together on the same day, the Muslim who observes the Eid prayer with the Imam has the option to attend Jumu’ah or pray Zuhr in his house.

Now, as we all know, 1439/2018 Eid-ul-Adha is just around the corner and millions of Muslims all over the world are prepping fervently; from buying rams, goats, cows and camels to shopping for brand new attires in the happiness of this yearly awaited occasion. On the other hand, there are the less privileged, needy and orphans, eager every year, to receive the meat as a blessing of Allah the Most High..

We hope this Eid brings immense joy in every household and may Allah shower his blessings on all the Muslims, providing ease in carrying out the sacrifices.

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. May the peace, blessings and salutations of Allah be upon our Noble Messenger, Muhammad, and upon his family, his Companions and his true followers.

Finally, I ask Allah Almighty, in His infinite Mercy to accept all our Ibaadaats (Worships) in these blessed days and always. Wa Taqabbalallahu Minna Wa Minkum, ameen.

Eid-du-kum Mubarak!

Ma’assalam,

Your Brother: Imam Murtadha Muhammad Gusau, the Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumu’ah and the Late Alhaji Abdurrahman Okene’s Mosques, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. The Imam can be reached via: gusaumurtada@gmail.com or +2348038289761.

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