Since Eid has been coming closer and closer I have had a huge influx of women with children knocking on my door and asking others who know me for help. Part of living in a muslim country makes Eid a huge deal and every parent wants to make it something their child will remember from their childhood as one of the best days of their lives.
I have seen online and in some groups I’m active in that people are spending hundreds of pounds/ dollars on new clothes to wear mostly just for that one day. Some people will wear those clothes again on Jummah and other special events and others will just keep it and then, I don’t know what they do after that.
I want to ask you, do you not see the muslims are hungry? that children don’t have clothes to wear? that their mothers can’t afford to buy them medicine? don’t you see the suffering of the people in other countries and even in your own? Didn’t you see the brother who committed suicide in the Haram during ramadan? he wasn’t the only one who did so during this month subhan Allah, our showing off of our wealth and beautiful things online could be causing sever depression and pain to someone else so far away and we wouldn’t ever know.
While you are flaunting online your new outfits and how much they cost, showing off with your beautiful dresses, thobes, perfumes etc did you not consider the hurt and pain you are causing others who will wear their same old clothes on that day? didn’t you realise how much destruction this can cause a mother who can’t feed her children yet you throw money, not just a little but an unnecessary amount on a piece of clothing ?
The Muslim should dress for Eid in his best clothes, and go out to see his friends and visit his relatives looking and smelling good. This is something that is customary and well-known among people at all times, and this is their tradition; it is part of expressing joy and happiness on that day.
This is also indicated by the Sunnah.
Al-Bukhaari (948) and Muslim (2068) narrated that ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: ‘Umar found a suit of istabraq (a type of silk) being offered for sale in the market, so he took it and brought it to the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah, buy this and adorn yourself with it for ‘Eid and for the delegations. The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “This is only a garment for the one who has no share in the Hereafter.” The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him did not object to adorning oneself for Eid; rather he told him that wearing this suit was haraam, because it was made of silk.
Islam Q and A. May Allah release the sheikh ameen
Yes, it is permissible to buy nice clothes and its advised to dress in your best clothes and adorn yourself on the day of Eid. I’m not saying this is haram, but we must keep in our mind that Eid is a day of happiness for our ummah and while social media reaches all over the world we could be causing it to be a day of sadness for many of our beloved Ummah.
لايؤمن أحدكم حتى يحب لأخيه ما يحب لنفسه« رواه البخاري ومسلم
On the authority of Abu Hamza Anas Ibn Maalik, the servant of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), from the Prophet (peace be upon him) who said, “None of you [truly] believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” [Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Please I ask you if you already bought your Eid clothes then consider donating some money to a good cause to help those who couldn’t buy something new, or those who are struggling .Alternatively you could just give a little in any charitable cause.
If you haven’t bought your clothes yet then maybe think twice about it and how much you really need to spend and then try to also give in charity the excess you would have spent.
Often I hear people tell me they can’t afford to give charity but I swear by Allah when I compare their lifestyle to those I see here and talk to them a little and ask them about what they are spending on they even see they could afford to provide many families what they need to alleviate them of their hardships, if they just cut out 1 thing a month that they loved like fizzy drinks or a chocolate etc.
Lets do our best to make Eid an enjoyable day for every muslim and not just our own family as the Ummah of Muhammed peace be upon him is ONE Ummah and One family.
May Allah rectify our ways and cause us to be of those who are pleasing to Him. Allahummah salli wassalam ala nabiyana muhammed wa ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassalam Ameen.
Ajnabiyah 