Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalamoalaikum Burhan Bhai & Eid Mubarak to you and your team!

Please can you answer the following questions.

1) Juma and Eid khutba, must it be read by the Imam in Arabic?

2) Eid-ul-Fitr lasts for 3 days & Eid-ul-Adha lasts for 2 days. Is this a myth?

Jazakallah Kheir

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Khutba in Arabic

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question-1: Juma and Eid khutba, must it be read by the Imam in Arabic?

Because the people who were addressed in the sermons at the time of the Prophet (saws) understood the Arabic language, the khutbas or sermons were obviously delivered in the Arabic language by the Noble Prophet (saws).

But there is absolutely no condition in Shariah Law that the Eid or Jumuah sermon has to be delivered in Arabic or any other particular language. There is absolutely no harm or restriction in Islam if the Imam chooses to deliver the Eid or Jumuah Khubta or sermon in any language which is understood by the majority of those being addressed.

Your Question-2: Eid-ul-Fitr lasts for 3 days & Eid-ul-Adha lasts for 2 days. Is this a myth?

Eid-ul-Fitr is commissioned as only one day, the first day after the completion of the obligatory fasting of month of Ramadan, ie. the 1^st of Shawwaal; and similarly the Eid-ul-Adha is also only one day, the day after the ‘Yaum Arafaah’ or the 10^th day of the month of Dhul-Hijjah.

Neither is Eid-ul-Fitr three days, nor is Eid-ul-Adha two days, but both the prescribed days of Eid or celebration in Shariah are only one specific and particular day each.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan