THE PURPOSE BEHIND THE ‘EID PRAYER:

Islaam exhorts its followers to make social life a visible expression of God-consciousness. Prayer is the most effective means of fostering this virtue in man. This is the reason why it has been made essential for Muslims to observe obligatory prayers in congregation. It starts with five daily prayers then Jumu‘ah is a step forward in this respect, then comes ‘Eids prayers and then once a year the Hajj. The purpose behind it is to provide opportunities to a greater number of Muslims to attend larger congregations in an atmosphere of religious piety. Apart from prayer, the sermon has also been made an integral part of this gathering and the prayer.

FOR WHOM THE PERFORMANCE OF SALAATUL ‘EID IS VALID:

The ‘Eid prayer is valid for men, women, children, travellers, residents, people in congregation, and people praying individually. It is also valid if performed in a house, mosque, or a distant place designated for the salah, and so on.

ETIQUETTE OF A MUSLIM ON THE DAY OF ‘EID-UL-ADH-HAA:

To assess the concept of being different from the Mushrikeen, it is very important to say that: in order to be different in our ceremonies in the way the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam wanted us to be, we must follow the Sunnah literally. That would give us the deeds of being true followers of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam). So if we want to be his sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam followers we must be aware of Bid‘ah (innovation). Bid‘ah comes at the expense of Sunnah which is replaced by it. Ibn Taymiyah said in his book Al-Iqtidaa: "There is no place in the heart for both Sunnah and Bid‘ah".

Allâh says: "Say-O Muhammad-if you love Allâh follow me, Allâh will love you." [Aali ‘Emraan: 31.]

A Muslim is required to follow the teachings of the Messenger of Allâh sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam before going to the ‘Eid prayer. It is of great importance to follow the Sunnah of ‘Eid so we can truly say that our feasts are different from the Mushrikeen’s feasts.

SUNAN AL-’EID FOR ALL THOSE WHO ATTEND THE ‘EIDS PRAYER

1: The Muslim is required to make ghusl or ablution on this day. It can be done at any time but to serve the purpose it is recommended to do it before going out for the prayer. The ‘Eid prayer is held in congregation and it is held in a huge gathering more than the Jumu‘ah prayer, therefore, as the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam asked Muslims to make ghusl for Friday prayer, it should also be considered for ‘Eid prayer to serve the purpose. The purpose and the goal is to be clean for prayer and avoid harming the people with odor, etc. The Muslim is required to make ghusl or ablution on this day. It can be done any time but to serve the purpose it is recommended to do it before going out for the prayer. This is recommended because, the person will feel fresh throughout the day, he will have full concentration in his prayer and to what is being mentioned in the khutbah after the prayer and most importantly, he will not harm others with the bad smell.

Imaam Al-Baghawee said in ‘Sharhus Sunnah’: vol.4, pp.301-302, that, "And the sunnah is to take a bath on the day of ‘Eid. It is reported that ‘Alee used to take bath on the day of ‘Eid, and similarly it is reported that Ibn ‘Umar and Salamah ibn Al-Akwa‘ used to do so"

The report of ‘Alee is found in Imaam Shaafa‘ee’s book: Musnad Ash-Shaafi‘ee: vol.1, p.168, but this report in inauthentic due to Ibraaheem ibn Muhammad, who is week in the opinion of the Scholars of Hadeeth. The other report of Ibn ‘Umar is found in the book of Imaam Maalik: Muatta’ Imaam Maalik: (Arabic) vol: 1, p.177 and (English Translation): p.84, chapter: 104, hadeeth: 421. Refer to Zaadul Ma’aad: vol. 1, pp. 441-2.

2: Eating on the two ‘Eids: It is a sunnah to eat dates before leaving for ‘Eid-ul-Fitr. It is preferable not to eat anything on the day of ‘Eid-ul-Adh-haa until performing the ‘Eid prayer in the morning; then one should return home, slaughter an animal, and prepare the meal and eat from it. For ‘Eidul Fitr, it is a sunnah to eat an odd number of dates before going to pray salaatul ‘Eid while for ‘Eidul adh-haa the eating should be delayed until one returns from the ‘Eid prayer and then he may eat of his sacrifice if he has sacrificed an animal.

Anas reports:

"The Prophet would not go out on the festival of breaking the fast until he had eaten an odd number of dates." [This is related by Sahih al-Bukhari: vol. 2, no.73.]

Buraidah reports: "The Prophet would not go out on the day of breaking the fast (‘Eidul Fitr) until he had eaten and on the day of sacrifice (‘Eidul adh-haa) he would not eat until he had returned [from salah]." This is related by at-Tirmithee and Ibn Majah, and also by Sunan Ad-Daaramee who added: "And he would eat from his sacrifice." [ Sharhus Sunnah: vol. 4, p. 306, footnote: 1.]

3: It is highly recommended that he should wear his best clothes on this day. Ja'far ibn-Muhammad relates from his father on the authority of his grandfather who reported that the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam would wear a Yemeni cloak on every ‘Eid. This is related by ash-Shaafi‘ee and al-Baghawee. Ibn al-Qayyim writes: "The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam used to wear his most beautiful clothes for them and he had a special cloak that he would wear on the two ‘Eids and Jumu'ah." [Reference can be checked in Sharhus Sunnah: vol. 4, p. 302, footnote. 2. See Zaadul Mi ‘a ad: vol. 1, p.441.]

4: He is required to use hair oil.

5: He is required to apply perfume if he has his own, otherwise, he may use his wife’s perfume. Al-Hassan as-Sibt says: "The Messenger of Allâh ordered us to wear the best clothes we could find for the two ‘Eids and to apply the best perfume we could find and to sacrifice the best animal we could find." This is related by al-Haakim and in its chain is Ishaaq ibn Barzakh whom al-'Azdi declares to be weak while Ibn Hibban says he is trustworthy.

6: He should use the tooth-brush (miswaak) before going to the ‘Eid prayer.

7: He must remove all offensive smells, which might harm others. It is prohibited for him to attend the ‘Eid prayer, if he smells onion or garlic.

GOING OUT TO THE MUSALLAA (place for prayer)

Salaatul ‘Eid can be performed in the mosque but it is preferred to perform it in a place outside the city as long as there is no excuse or reason to do otherwise (e.g., rain, etc.). As the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam   would pray the two ‘Eids in the outskirts of al-Medeenah and he never prayed it in his mosque, except it is reported through a week narration that once he prayed in the mosque because it was raining.

1:Takbeeraat during the days of ‘Eid

It is a sunnah to pronounce the takbeeraat on ‘Eid days. Concerning the ‘Eid of breaking the fast, Allâh says: "you should complete the prescribed period and that you should glorify Allâh [i.e., say takbeeraat] for having guided you and that you may give thanks." Al-Baqarah: 2: 185.

Concerning the ‘Eid of the sacrifice, Allâh says: "that you may remember Allâh during the well known days;" Al-Hajj: 22:

The majority of the scholars say that the time for the takbeeraat during the ‘Eid of breaking the fast is from the time one goes to the ‘Eid prayer until the khutbah begins. Weak hadith have been recorded stating this, but there are also authentic reports from Ibn 'Umar and other companions that they did so.

Al-Haakim says: "This sunnah has been practiced by ahl-il hadeeth. Maalik, Ahmad, Ishaaq, and Abu Thaur [have made statements concurring that practice] ."

Some say that the takbeeraat are from the night before the ‘Eid, when the moon is seen, until the person goes to the musallaa and the imaam arrives. The time for the takbeeraat during the ‘Eid of the sacrifice is from the day of 'Arafah until the time of the 'asr on the thirteenth of Thul-Hijjah. [See Sharhussunnah: vol. 4, pp. 300-1. See Zaadul Mi ‘aad: vol. 1, p. 449.]

Women can also pronounce the takbeer:

Narrated by Umm ‘Ateeyah: "We used to be ordered to come out on the Day of ‘Eid and even bring out the virgin girls from their houses and menstruating women so that they might stand behind the men and say Takbeer along with them and invoke Allâh along with them and hope for the blessings of that day and for purification from sins." Sahih Al-Bukhari: vol. 2, p.47, no.88.