Eid is the time of the year where Muslims from all walks of life spend their time in celebration. But whilst enjoying ourselves, there are acts of worship that are recommended to be observed and bring about immense rewards from Allah.
Anas bin Maalik (radi Allahu anhu) said:
“The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) came to Madinah and the people had two days when they would play and have fun. He said, ‘What are these two days?’ They said, ‘We used to play and have fun on these days during the Jaahiliyyah (Days of Ignorance). The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, ‘Allah has given you something better than them, the day of (Eid) Adha and the day of (Eid) Fitr.’”
[Sunan Abu Dawood – Classed as Sahih by Shaykh al-Albaani]The Sunan that the Muslim should observe on the day of Eid ul Fitr are as follows:
1 – Doing ghusl before going out to the prayer
It was narrated in a saheeh hadeeth in al-Muwatta’ and elsewhere that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar used to do ghusl on the day of al-Fitr before going out to the prayer-place in the morning.
[Al-Muwatta’ 428]Al- Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said that the Muslims were unanimously agreed that it is mustahabb to do ghusl for Eid prayer.
Don’t smell bad on this sacred day. Use miswaak or other ways of keeping the breath nice and apply perfume (for men).
2 – Adorning oneself on the occasion of Eid.
It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said that ‘Umar took a brocade cloak that was for sale in the market and brought it to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and said, “O Messenger of Allaah, buy this and adorn yourself with it for Eid and for receiving the delegations.” The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to him, “Rather this is the dress of one who has no share (of piety or of reward in the Hereafter)…”
[Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 948]The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) agreed with ‘Umar on the idea of adorning oneself for Eid, but he denounced him for choosing this cloak because it was made of silk.
It was narrated that Jaabir (may Allaah be pleased with him) said:
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had a cloak which he would wear on the two Eids and on Fridays.
[Saheeh Ibn Khuzaymah, 1756]Al-Bayhaqi narrated with a saheeh isnaad that Ibn ‘Umar used to wear his best clothes on Eid.
So a man should wear the best clothes that he has when going out for Eid.
With regard to women, they should avoid adorning themselves when they go out for Eid, because they are forbidden to show off their adornments to non-mahram men. It is also haraam for a woman who want to go out to put on perfume or to expose men to temptation, because they are only going out for the purpose of worship.
Don’t wear clothes or do any acts which lead to showing off and any element of arrogance. Stay humble and be thankful to Allah for the blessings.
3 – Eating before the going out for Eid ul Fitr salah
On Eid al-Fitr, the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to eat an odd number of dates before going out for prayer as reported in Sahih Bukhari. One of the wisdom behind this was to show there’s no fasting being observed on this day for it is forbidden.
Don’t miss out on this Sunnah as little acts like these can be heavy on the scale on the day of judgement.
4 – Takbeer on the day of Eid
This is one of the greatest Sunan on the day of Eid because Allāh says (interpretation of the meaning):
(He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allah [i.e. to say Takbeer (Allaahu Akbar: Allah is the Most Great)] for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him.
[al-Baqarah 2:185]It was narrated that al-Waleed ibn Muslim said: I asked al-Awzaa’i and Maalik ibn Anas about saying Takbeer out loud on the two Eids. They said, Yes, ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar used to say it out loud on the day of al-Fitr until the imam came out (to lead the prayers).
Al-Daaraqutni and others narrated that on the morning of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, Ibn ‘Umar would strive hard in reciting takbeer until he came to the prayer place, then he would recite takbeer until the imam came out.
Saying takbeer when coming out of one’s house to the prayer place and until the imam came out was something that was well known among the salaf (early generations). This has been narrated by a number of scholars such as Ibn Abi Shaybah, ‘Abd a l-Razzaaq and al-Firyaabi in Ahkaam al-Eidayn from a group of the salaf.
Description of the takbeer:
Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, laa ilaaha ill-Allaah, Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, wa Lillaahi’l-hamd (Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great, there is no god except Allah , Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great, and all praise be to Allah ).
Or you can say Allaahu akbar three times, so you say:
Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, laa ilaaha ill-Allaah, Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, wa Lillaahi’l-hamd (Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great, there is no god except Allah, Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great , Allah is Most Great, and all praise be to Allah).
Both are permissible.
Men should raise their voices reciting this dhikr in the marketplaces, mosques and homes, but women should not raise their voices. It is mustahabb to recite takbeer during the night of Eid from sunset on the last day of Ramadan until the imam comes to lead the prayer.
Don’t say the takbeerat in unison, this is not from the Sunnah and is an act of innovation. Recite your own individual takbeerat.
5 – The Eid prayer
It’s a Sunnah to have the prayer observed in an open area and not inside a regular masjid. Ibn al Qayyim said:
The practical Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) (i.e., what he did) was to leave his mosque for the Eid prayers and perform these prayers in the musalla that was at the outer gate of Madeenah.
[Zaad al-Ma’aad 1/441]Don’t forsake this Sunnah if there’s an opportunity for you and your family including your women and children to pray in an open area being arranged by an Islamic institute.
6 – Offering congratulations
The etiquette of Eid also includes the congratulations and good wishes exchanged by people, no matter what the wording, such as saying to one another Taqabbala Allaah minna wa minkum (May Allaah accept (good deeds) from us and from you” or “Eid mubaarak” and other permissible expressions of congratulations.
It was narrated that Jubayr ibn Nufayr said:
When the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) met one another on the day of Eid, they would say to one another, “May Allah accept (good deeds) from us and from you.”
[Ibn Hajar said, its isnaad is hasan. Al-Fath, 2/446]Offering congratulations was something that was well known among the Sahaabah, and scholars such as Imam Ahmad and others allowed it.
There is evidence which suggests that it is prescribed to offer congratulations and good wishes on special occasions, and that the Sahaabah congratulated one another when good things happened, such as when Allah accepted the repentance of a man, they went and congratulated him for that, and so on.
Undoubtedly these congratulations are among the noble characteristics among the Muslims.
Don’t go outside of the boundaries set by the Shariah when celebrating and congratulating. Remember shaking hands or hugging non-mahrams is forbidden.
7 – Going to the prayer by one route and returning by another.
It was narrated that Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said:
On the day of Eid, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to vary his route.
[Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 986]The reason for that was so that the two routes would testify for him on the Day of Resurrection, for the earth will speak on the Day of Resurrection and say what was done on it, both good and bad.
And it was said that it was in order to manifest the symbols of Islam on both routes, or to manifest the remembrance of Allah (dhikr). And it was said that it was in order to attend to the people’s needs, to answer their questions, teach them, set an example and give charity to the needy, or to visit his relatives and uphold the ties of kinship.
Don’t single out the day of Eid to go to graveyards to make Dua for the dead. This act of worship has no basis in the Sunnah and is an act of innovation.
8 – Giving of Zakatul Fitr before the Salah.
One of the rulings on the day of Eid – Eid al-Fitr – is that Zakaat al-Fitr is due on this day. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) enjoined that it should be paid before the Eid prayer.
It is permissible to pay it one or two days before that, because of the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) which was narrated by al-Bukhari:
“They used to give it one or two days before (Eid) al-Fitr.”
If it is paid after the Eid prayer, it does not count as Sadaqat al-Fitr, because of the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Abbaas:
“Whoever pays it before the prayer, it is Zakaat al-Fitr, and whoever pays it after the prayer, it is ordinary charity.”
It is haraam to delay Zakaat al-Fitr until after the Eid prayer. If one delays it with no excuse then it is not acceptable zakaah, but if there is an excuse – such as if a person is traveling and does not have anything to give or anyone to give it to, or he is expecting his family to pay it and they are expecting him to pay it, then in this case he should pay it when it is easy for him to do so, even if that is after the prayer, and there is no sin on him because he has an excuse.
Don’t just come to the masajids on Eid day and give your zakatul fitr expecting it to reach the poor before you stand up for prayer.
9 – Exchanging gifts
The religion encourages us to celebrate these days of joy and one of the best forms of rejoicing is to share gifts with one another. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said as reported by Sahih Bukhari in al-Adab al-Mufrad:
“Exchange gifts, as that will lead to increasing your love to one another.”
And this doesn’t only apply for elders to the young or only on Eid ul Fitr or even just on Eid days. This is a general statement which should be revived and put into practice especially within family members for the reward of holding and strengthening the ties of kinship is huge.
Don’t be of those who give gifts which they themselves won’t even use. We are supposed to love for others what we love for ourselves. Also don’t overspend and become of those who are from the transgressors.
All in all, if we can apply these simple acts of our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) on this auspicious day with the intention of pleasing Allah, then just watch how Allah sends down His blessing upon us, our families and our Ummah on the large in sha Allah.
With this, we would like to say TaqqabAllahu Minna Wa Minkum. Have a lovely day in sha Allah and don’t forget to make lots of dua too, remember those who are less fortunate and remember Allah much.
