Page:Selections from Muhammadan Traditions - tr. William Goldsack (1923).djvu/85

Rh Bakr, every nation has its festival, and this is ours.'—Muslim, Al Bukhárí.

It is related from Al Barái that he said, 'The Prophet addressed us on the day of sacrifice and said, "Verily the first thing we do on this day of ours is that we repeat the prayers. Then we return and offer the sacrifice. And whoever does that has followed our practice; and whoever sacrifices before we pray has merely hurried in providing sheep's flesh for his family, he has in no respect fulfilled his duty towards God."'—Muslim, Al Bukhárí.

It is related from Anas that, 'The Prophet came to Madína and the people of Madína had two days on which they used to have sports. And he said, "What are these two days?" They replied, "We used, in the time of ignorance (before Islám) to play on these days." The Apostle of God said, "God has exchanged for you something better than these namely, the day of sacrifice and the day of breaking the fast."'—Abu Dáud.

It is related from Abúʾl-Huwairith that, 'The Apostle of God wrote to ʿAmru bin Ḥazm when he was in Najrán, "Be quick in the performance of the feast of sacrifice, and delay in the observance of the feast of breaking the fast; and admonish the people."'—Ash Sháfi.

It is related from Abú Saʿíduʾl-Khudri that, 'The Apostle of God used to come out on the day of the festival of sacrifice and on the day of the festival of breaking the fast and begin with the prayers. And when he had said his prayers he used to rise up and face the people, whilst they remained sitting in the place in which they said their prayers. And if he had occasion to send (an army anywhere) he used to mention it to the people, or if he had occasion for anything else he commanded them with regard to it. And he used to say, "Give alms! give alms! give alms!" And most of those who gave alms were women. Then he would take his departure. And the practice continued thus until Marwán binuʾl-Ḥakam. And I came out by the side of Marwán until we arrived at the place of prayer, and behold! Kathir binuʾṣ-Ṣalt had built a pulpit of mud and unburnt bricks, and Marwán began to push me by the hand as if he would drag me to the pulpit. And I was