The
Sunnahs that the Muslim should
observe on the day of Eid 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-Allah 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 Allah have mercy on
him) said that the Muslims were
unanimously agreed that it is
mustahabb to do ghusl for Eid
prayer.
The
reason why it is mustahabb is the
same reason as that for doing ghusl
before Jumu’ah and other public
gatherings. Rather on Eid the reason
is even stronger.
2 –
Eating before going out to pray on
Eid al-Fitr and after the prayer on
Eid al-Adha:
Part of
the etiquette is not to go out to
pray on Eid al-Fitr until one has
eaten some dates, because of the
hadeeth narrated by al-Bukhaari from
Anas ibn Maalik, who said that the
Messenger of Allah
(peace and blessings of Allah be
upon him) used not to go out on the
morning of Eid al-Fitr until he had
eaten some dates… of which he would
eat an odd number. Al-Bukhaari,
953.
It is
mustahabb to eat before going out to
emphasize the fact that it is
forbidden to fast on that day and to
demonstrate that the fast has
ended.
Ibn
Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him)
suggested that the reason for that
was so as to ward off the
possibility of adding to the fast,
and to hasten to obey the command of
Allah. Al-Fath, 2/446
Whoever
does not have any dates may break
his fast with anything that is
permissible.
But on
Eid al-Adha it is mustahabb not to
eat anything until one comes back
from the prayer, so he should eat
from the udhiyah if he has offered a
sacrifice. If he is not going to
offer a sacrifice there is nothing
wrong with eating before the
prayer.
3 –
Takbeer on the day of Eid
This is
one of the greatest Sunnahs on the
day of Eid because Allah 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 (Allahu 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-Allah ibn ‘Umar used to
say it out loud on the day of al-Fitr
until the imam came out (to lead the
prayers).
It was
narrated in a saheeh report that
‘Abd al-Rahmaan al-Sulami said,
“They emphasized it more on the day
of al-Fitr than the day of al-Adha.”.
Wakee’ said, this refers to the
takbeer. See Irwa’ al-Ghaleel,
3/122/
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.
Ibn Abi
Shaybah narrated with a saheeh
isnaad that al-Zuhri said: The
people used to recite Takbeer on Eid
when they came out of their houses
until they came to the prayer place,
and until the imam came out. When
the imam came out they fell silent,
and when he said takbeer they said
takbeer. See Irwa’ al-Ghaleel,
1/121
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. For
example, Naafi’ ibn Jubayr used to
recite takbeer and was astonished
that the people did not do so, and
he said, “Why do you not recite
takbeer?”
Ibn
Shihaab al-Zuhri (may Allah have
mercy on him) used to say, “The
people used to recite takbeer from
the time they came out of their
houses until the imam came in.”
The time
for takbeer on Eid al-Fitr starts
from the night before Eid until the
imam enters to lead the Eid prayer.
In the
case of Eid al-Adha, the takbeer
begins on the first day of
Dhu’l-Hijjah and lasts until sunset
on the last of the days of tashreeq.
Description of the takbeer:
It was
narrated in the Musannaf of Ibn Abi
Shaybah with a saheeh isnaad from
Ibn Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased
with him) that he used to recite
takbeer during the days of tashreeq:
Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, laa
ilaaha ill-Allah, wa Allahu akbar,
Allah akbar, wa Lillaah il-hamd
(Allah is Most Great, Allah is
most Great, there is no god but
Allah, Allah is Most great, Allah
is most great, and to Allah be
praise).
It was
also narrated elsewhere by Ibn Abi
Shaybah with the same isnaad, but
with the phrase “Allahu akbar”
repeated three times.
Al-Mahaamili
narrated with a saheeh isnaad also
from Ibn Mas’ood: “Allahu akbaru
kabeera, Allahu akbaru kabeera,
Allahu akbar wa ajallu, Allahu
akbar wa Lillaah il-hamd (Allah
is Most Great indeed, Allah is Most
Great indeed, Allah is most Great
and Glorified, Allah is Most Great
and to Allah be praise).” See
al-Irwa’, 3/126.
4 –
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 Allah minna wa
minkum (May Allah 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.
The
least that may be said concerning
the subject of congratulations is
that you should return the greetings
of those who congratulate you on Eid,
and keep quiet if others keep quiet,
as Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy
on him) said: If anyone
congratulates you, then respond,
otherwise do not initiate it.
5 –
Adorning oneself on the occasion of
Eid.
It was
narrated that ‘Abd-Allah ibn ‘Umar
(may Allah 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
Allah, buy this and adorn yourself
with it for Eid and for receiving
the delegations.” The Messenger of
Allah
(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 Allah 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 Allah 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 wants to go out to put on
perfume or to expose men to
temptation, because they are only
going out for the purpose of
worship.
6 –
Going to the prayer by one route and
returning by another.
It was
narrated that Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allah
(may Allah 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.
It was
said that 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), or to
annoy the hypocrites and Jews, and
to scare them with the large number
of people who were with him. 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.
And
Allah knows best.
