The ordinances and ethics of Eid Al Adha
Muhammad Bin Salih Al-Uthaimeen
- Categories: Fiqh of Worship - Ten days of Dhul- Hijjah -
The ordinances and ethics of ‘Eid Al-Adha:
Dear brother: We greet you with the Islam greeting and say to you: peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you. And we congratulate you in advance for ‘Eid Al-Adha and say to you: may Allah accept from you and us our good deeds, and we hope that you would accept our message to you which we invoke Allah to be useful for you and for all the Muslims everywhere.
Dear Muslim: It is for our good to follow the Prophet’s, prayer and peace of Allah be upon him, guidance in all our lives’ affairs, and the whole evil lies in disobeying Him, prayer and peace of Allah be upon him. Therefore, we would like to remind you of some things that are preferable to do or to say in the night of ‘Eid Al-Adha and the day of sacrifice and the three days of Tashreeq. They are briefly:
Takbeer (saying Allah is the Greatest): This is legitimated from the dawn of ‘Arafa day to the afternoon of the last day of Tashreeq or the thirteenth day of Dhul-Hijjah month. Allah says: {And remember Allâh during the appointed Days.} [Surat Al Baqarah 2:203]
{وَاذكُرُواْ اللهَ فِي أَيَامٍ مَعدُودَاتٍ} البقرة: 203
Transliteration: Wa Adhkurū Al-Laha Fī ‘Ayyāmin Ma`dūdāt
It’s form is: “Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, there is no God except Allah, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest and praise be to Allah.”
Transliteration: Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Lâ Ilaha Ila Allah, WAllahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar Wa Lillahi-l-hamd
It is of the Sunnah to men to say them in the Masajid, markets and homes and after prayers to assert the Magnificence of Allah and to show Him worship and thanks.
The slaughtering of sacrifice: It is done after the ‘Eid prayer, as the Messenger of Allah, prayer and peace of Allah be upon him, said: “If someone slaughters before praying, he must slaughter again and if he did not slaughter, he must do after it (the ‘Eid prayer).” [Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
«من ذبح قبل أن يصلي فليعد مكانها أخرى، ومن لم يذبح فليذبح» رواه البخاري ومسلم
The time of sacrifice is four days: the sacrifice day and the three days of Tashreeq.
Showering, wearing perfume and wearing the best clothes: Without exaggeration or being too long (for clothes), or shave the beard as it is prohibited. As for women, they can go to the ‘Eid prayer in the Masjid without using makeup or wearing perfumes for that it is not suitable for them to go for praying and showing obedience to Allah while doing these sins.
Eating from the sacrifice: The Messenger of Allah, prayer and peace of Allah be upon him, did not eat till he returned from the ‘Eid prayer to eat from his sacrifice [Zad Al-Mi’ad: 441/1].
Going to the place of the feast prayer on foot, if possible.
It is from the Sunnah to pray in the place of the ‘Eid prayers except when there is an excuse like rain, so you can pray in the Masjid as the Messenger did.
Praying with Muslims in congregation and attending the ‘Eid sermon is preferable: That is advised by the incontestable scholars like Ibn-Taymiyyah who said that the ‘Eid prayer is compulsory as Allah says: {Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice (to Him only).} [Surah Al-Kauthar 108:2], and it cannot be dropped except if there is an excuse.
{فَصَلِّ لِرَبِكَ وَانحَر} الكوثر: 2
Transliteration: Faşalli Lirabbika Wa Anĥar
Women witness the feast with men even during their menstruation and the emancipated slaves, but women on their menstruation period should not perform the prayer.
Changing the route to the prayer: It is preferable to go to pray along a route and to return from a different one as the Prophet, prayer and peace of Allah be upon him, did.
Congratulating for the feast: As it is ascertained by the companions of the Messenger, prayer and peace of Allah be upon him.
Beware, my Muslim brother, to do the mistakes that a lot of people do, some of which are:
- The Takbeer (saying Allah is the Greatest) in groups or repeating it after one person.
- Amusement with the prohibited means as listening to songs, watching films or the intermingling of men and women which are not prohibited and doing any other evil actions.
- Cutting anything from hair or nails before sacrificing only for those who sacrifice as the Prophet, prayer and peace of Allah be upon him, prohibited that.
- Useless extravagance or spendthrift for Allah’s Saying: {and waste not by extravagance. Verily, He likes not Al-Musrifûn (those who waste by extravagance).} [Surat Al-`An’âm 6:141]
{وَلا تُسرِفُوا إِنّهُ لا يُحِبُّ المُسرِفِينَ} الأنعام: 141
Transliteration: Wa Lā Tusrifū ‘Innahu Lā Yuĥibbu Al-Musrifīn
Finally, don’t forget, my Muslim brother, to comply with good deeds like keeping good relations with relatives and visiting them, leaving hatred and envy and purifying one’s heart from them, helping orphans and the poor, making them happy and being kind to them.
We ask Allah to guide us to what He likes and Be satisfied with us, help us know our religion well, and to make us from those who do righteous deeds on the ten days of Dhul Hijjah purely for Him.