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Id al-Adhha prayer
By: Hojjat al-Islam Muhsin Qara’ati
The tenth day of Dhu’l-Hijjah is ‘Id al-Qurban (or al-Adhha). It is one of the most auspicious festivities of Islam, with specific practices and supplications. One of them is the ‘Id al-Qurban prayer. Like the ‘Id al-Fitr prayer, it consists of two rak‘ahs. It is also offered in the same manner, at the same time, and under the same conditions.
Whether on the day of ‘Id al-Fitr or ‘Id al-Qurban, takbirs are to be recited before and after the prayer (in the case of ‘Id al-Qurban, up to ten takbirs after the ‘Id al-Qurban prayer), which all contain the glorification of God, monotheism, His greatness, and our gratitude for His blessing of guidance.[1][610]
In the qunut of the ‘Id al-Adhha prayer, as in the previous ‘id prayer, it is better to recite the supplication, “Allahumma ahl al-kibriya’i wa’l-‘azamah…”[1][611] In this supplication, we recognize and remember God through His greatness, omnipotence, clemency, mercy, and forgiveness. For the sake of this great day which is a day of festivity for the Muslims and a source of nobility and pride for the Prophet and his descendants (‘a), we beseech God to send salutations to Muhammad and his progeny (‘a) and to benefit from His blessings and good things.
The statement made in this supplication is the most comprehensive request that may be asked from God. We request the following from God: O God! Include me in whatever goodness You bestowed on this day upon Muhammad and his progeny.
And also take away from me whatever evil You took away from Muhammad and his progeny.
O God! I ask You for the best of things which Your righteous servants have asked of You.
And I seek refuge in You from whatever evil Your righteous servants have sought refuge in You!
‘Id prayer as a prerogative of the leader
In Islam affairs pertaining to Friday and ‘Id congregational prayers are among the posts designated to the rightful government and Islamic leadership. If oppressive powers assume the posts to advance their own objectives, it is an act of usurpation.
Even designating individuals to conduct the Friday and ‘Id congregational prayers and the Hajj pilgrimage is one of the prerogatives and functions of the government and guardian of the affair {wilayah al-amr}. Therefore, such affairs being in control of the unworthy individuals is mournful for the progeny of Muhammad (S). In a hadith Imam al-Baqir (‘a) has pointed to this fact: “There is no ‘Id al-Adhha or ‘Id al-Fitr for Muslims in which the grief and sorrow of the progeny of Muhammad are not aggravated and revived.” The Imam (‘a) was asked about the reason and he said: “It is because on that day the Ahl al-Bayt could see their rights in the hands of others!”[1][612]
And which state of being oppressed is graver for the infallible progeny than the fact that even the Islamic festivities are sorrowful for them, as they remind them of the usurpation of their rights and the deviation of the leadership of society!
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