What are the Sunnahs and etiquettes that we
should act in accordance with on the day of Eid?.
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Praise be to Allaah.
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The Sunnahs that the Muslim should observe on
the day of Eid are as follows:
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1 – Doing ghusl before going out to the prayer.
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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.
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.
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2 – Eating before going out to pray on Eid al-Fitr
and after the prayer on Eid al-Adha:
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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 Allaah (peace and blessings of
Allaah 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.
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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.
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Ibn Hajar (may Allaah 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 Allaah. Al-
Fath , 2/446
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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.
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3 – Takbeer on the day of Eid
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This is one of the greatest Sunnahs on the day of
Eid because Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):
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“(He wants that you) must complete the same
number (of days), and that you must magnify
Allaah [i.e. to say Takbeer (Allaahu Akbar: Allaah
is the Most Great)] for having guided you so that
you may be grateful to Him”
[al-Baqarah 2:185]
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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).
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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.
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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
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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 Allaah 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.”
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The time for takbeer on Eid al-Fitr starts from the
night before Eid until the imam enters to lead the
Eid prayer.
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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.
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Description of the takbeer:
It was narrated in the Musannaf of Ibn Abi
Shaybah with a saheeh isnaad from Ibn Mas’ood
(may Allaah be pleased with him) that he used to
recite takbeer during the days of tashreeq:
Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, laa ilaaha ill-Allaah,
wa Allaahu akbar, Allaah akbar, wa Lillaah il-hamd
(Allaah is Most Great, Allaah is most Great, there
is no god but Allaah, Allaah is Most great, Allaah
is most great, and to Allaah be praise).
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It was also narrated elsewhere by Ibn Abi Shaybah
with the same isnaad, but with the phrase
“Allaahu akbar” repeated three times.
Al-Mahaamili narrated with a saheeh isnaad also
from Ibn Mas’ood: “Allaahu akbaru kabeera,
Allaahu akbaru kabeera, Allaahu akbar wa ajallu,
Allaahu akbar wa Lillaah il-hamd (Allaah is Most
Great indeed, Allaah is Most Great indeed, Allaah
is most Great and Glorified, Allaah is Most Great
and to Allaah be praise).” See al-Irwa’ , 3/126.
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4 – Offering congratulations
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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 Allaah be upon him) met one another
on the day of Eid, they would say to one another,
“May Allaah accept (good deeds) from us and
from you.” Ibn Hajar said, its isnaad is hasan. Al-
Fath , 2/446.
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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 Allaah accepted the repentance of a man,
they went and congratulated him for that, and so
on.
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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 Allaah have mercy on him) said: If
anyone congratulates you, then respond,
otherwise do not initiate it.
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5 – Adorning oneself on the occasion of Eid.
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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 Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah 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
Allaah 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.
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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 Allaah 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.
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So a man should wear the best clothes that he
has when going out for Eid.
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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.
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6 – Going to the prayer by one route and
returning by another.
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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 Allaah be
upon him) used to vary his route. Narrated by al-
Bukhaari, 986.
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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.
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And it was said that it was in order to manifest
the symbols of Islam on both routes, or to
manifest the remembrance of Allaah (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.
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And Allaah knows best.
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Source: islamqa.info/en/36442