Etiquette of Eid
What are the Sunnahs
and etiquettes that we should act in accordance with on the day of
Eid?
Praise be to Allaah.
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-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.
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
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].
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 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).
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
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
{وَلِتُكْمِلُواْ الْعِدَّةَ
وَلِتُكَبِّرُواْ اللّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ
تَشْكُرُونَ}
"(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].
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)".
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 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."
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 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).
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).
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 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].
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.
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.
5 - 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 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].
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.
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-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].
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 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.
And Allaah knows best.
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