السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
It’s Monday 25th May 2020. Let’s talk about ‘Eid ul-Fiṭr Ṣalāh 2020‘ today اِنْ شَاءَ الَّلهُ.
Muslims started arriving in the UK in the 1950s and 60s. If there was one Ṣalāh they never missed, it was ‘Eid Ṣalāh. The 2 ‘Eid Ṣalāhs were the highlights of the year. Muslims of all backgrounds and colours, coming together to display unity, harmony and the unique solidarity of Islām.
I personally do not remember missing ‘Eid Ṣalāh since 1975, when I was 8 years old مَا شَآءَ الله. Forty five years on and the prospect of missing my first ‘Eid Ṣalāh was about to become a reality.
A colleague researched the issue with top scholars of the world and concluded that the condition for ‘Eid Ṣalāh to be valid at home is the presence of at least 4 bāligh (mature) males. That was not going to work for me, unless I invited other family members, neighbours or friends to join me, which would mean breaking the law.
I beseeched Almighty Allāh, begging Him to guide me to observe my ‘Eid Ṣalāh. Not wanting to be selfish, not just mine, but my whole neighbourhood, which consists of 6 streets with around 100 houses. At the same time, I asked Almighty Allāh to guide us to ensure the restrictions on social distancing, lockdown measures, etc. were adhered to.
O Allāh, for You Alone is All Praise. For You Alone is all Gratitude. اَللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ كُلُّهُ وَلَكَ الشُّكْرُ كُلُّهُ. I have no words to thank my Lord. He inspired in my heart and mind a method by which residents of 100 houses fulfilled the Divine Law, taking into consideration the law of the land. The result is presented to you below.
My humble request to all Muslims here in the UK and abroad, you can all do this, اِنْ شَاءَ الَّلهُ. Start your preparations from now for this coming Jumu’ah Ṣalāh. Understand the law correctly, run it past the Police and Environmental Health (noise pollution section), and go for it, اِنْ شَاءَ الَّلهُ.
Please abide by the lockdown measures, remain in your gardens or just outside your doorstep. Also, please be considerate to our non Muslim neighbours. Within our 100 houses, we have one elderly retired non-Muslim couple, who blessed us with their prayers and assisted in the set-up and delivery. Almighty Allāh reward them accordingly, Āmeen.
Finally, very sadly and with a very heavy heart, us 100 families need extra special Du’ās from our brothers and sisters across the globe please. One of our Gujarātī Muslim councillors has objected to our method of offering Ṣalāh, and kicked up a massive fuss. Because of this one councillor, we may not be able to continue with our Jumu’ah Ṣalāh from this Friday 29th May.
My heart bleeds that it had to be a Muslim. I have spoken with non Muslim police Inspectors and Sergeants who understood my predicament and sympathised with me. Alas, it was one of my own who had to object. Almighty Allāh reward this Muslim Councillor with the best of both worlds, Āmeen.
Almighty Allāh is my Witness. This Du’ā is directly from the heart, not sheer sarcasm.
جَزَاكَ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا
Request for Du’ās
وَالسَّلَامُ Hanif Dudhwala