Table of Contents

‘Eid Festivals ................................................................................................................................ 2

Bathing on ‘Eid Days.................................................................................................................... 3
Eating Before Going to the ‘Eid Prayer ....................................................................................... 3
Coming Out of Women for the ‘Eid Prayer ................................................................................. 3
Saying the Takbir (Allahu Akbar) on the Day of ‘Eid ................................................................... 4
The Prayer and Khutbah of ‘Eid................................................................................................... 4
Recitation in the Two ‘Eid prayers .............................................................................................. 5
Voluntary Prayer before or after the ‘Eid Prayer ........................................................................ 5
Whoever Missed the ‘Eid Prayer................................................................................................. 5
Taking a Different Path Home on the Day of ‘Eid ....................................................................... 6
‘Eid Festivals

 ‘Aishah narrated: Abu Bakr come to my house while two small girls from the Ansar were singing
beside me about the stories of the Ansar concerning the Day of Bu’ath (Bu'ath was a major
battle between the Aws and Khazraj before Islam) and they were not (professional) singers
(“they were not singers" means that it was not their profession and they were not known for
that). Abu Bakr said protestingly, “The musical instruments of Shaytan in the house of Allah’s
Messenger (may peace be upon him)!” It happened on the ‘Eid day and Allah’s Messenger (may
peace be upon him) said:

“O Abu Bakr! There is an ‘Eid (festival) for every nation and this is our ‘Eid.” 1

 ‘Aishah also narrated: It was the day of ‘Eid, and some Africans were playing with their shields
and spears; so, either I requested the Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him), or he asked
me whether I would like to see this display. I replied in the affirmative. The Allah’s Messenger
(may peace be upon him) made me stand behind him and my cheek was touching his back and
he was saying, “Carry on, O Banu Arfida!” (Banu Arfida means the Abyssinians) until I got tired.
The Prophet (may peace be upon him) asked me “Are you satisfied (is that sufficient for you)?” I
replied in the affirmative and he told me to leave. 2

 Anas narrated: When the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) came to Madinah, they
had two festivals in which they used to play in them. The Prophet (may peace be upon him)
asked them: “What are these two days?” They said: “We used to play in these days in the days
of ignorance.” The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:

“Allah has exchanged for you something better than them: the day of sacrifice (‘Eid ul-Adha) and the day
of breaking the fast (‘Eid ul-Fitr).” 3

1
Bukhari, Two ‘Eid (Festivals), Chapter: The legal way of the celebrations on the two ‘Eid Festivals for the Islamic
world, Hadith: 952
2
Bukhari, ‘Eid Festivals, Chapter: A display of spears and shields on ‘Eid festival day, Hadith: 950
3
Abu Da’ud, As-Salat, Chapter: Prayer of two ‘Eid days, Hadith: 1134
Bathing on ‘Eid Days

 Ali stated: “One should take a bath on the day of Jumu’ah, Arafah (the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah), the
Day of Sacrifice (‘Eid ul-Adha) and the Day of breaking the fast (‘Eid ul-Fitr).”4

 Abdullah ibn Umar used to take a bath before going to the praying place for performing the ‘Eid
prayer. 5

Eating Before Going to the ‘Eid Prayer

 It is related that Anas bin Malik said, "On the Day of Fitr, the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless
him and grant him peace, would not go out until he had eaten some dates." It is related from
Anas that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to eat an odd number of
them.6

 Ibn Buraidah narrated on the authority of his father: Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon
him) used not to go out on the day of breaking of the fast till he had some food, but he used not
to take any food on the day of sacrifice till he had prayed.7

 These Ahadith inform us that it is in accordance with the Sunnah to eat something before ‘Eid
ul-Fitr prayer. No particular food s recommended, but keeping in view the tradition of the
Prophet (may peace be upon him), dates are preferable.

Coming Out of Women for the ‘Eid Prayer

 Umm ‘Atiyah narrated: “We were commanded to bring out on ‘Eid ul-Fitr and ‘Eid ul-Adha, the
young women and the menstruating women to participate in the goodness and supplications of
the Muslims but the menstruating women keep away from the Musallah (praying place). “ 8

4
Baihaqi 3/278
5
Mu’atta Imam Malik, ‘Eid Festivals, Chapter: Taking a bath on ‘Eid days and calling the Adhan and Iqamah, Vol:1,
Page: 172
6
Bukhari, Two ‘Eid, Chapter: Eating on the day pf ‘Eid ul-Fitr before going out, Hadith: 953
7
Tirmidhi, Al-Jumu’ah, Chapter: What is said regarding eating before going for ‘Eid ul-Fitr prayer, Hadith: 542
8
Bukhari, Two ‘Eid, Chapter: The coming out of ladies and menstruating women to the Musalla, Hadith: 974
Saying the Takbir (Allahu Akbar) on the Day of ‘Eid

 Abdullah bin ‘Umar used to recite the Takbir from his home to the praying place on the day of
‘Eid ul-Fitr. 9

 Imam Zuhri stated that the people used to recite the Takbir all the way from their homes to
praying place and then recite with the Imam. 10

 Salman used to recite it in the following words:

“Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar kabeera”

“Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Most Great.” 11

The Prayer and Khutbah of ‘Eid

 ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar narrated: “Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) used to perform the
Salah of ‘Eid ul-Adha and ‘Eid ul-Fitr and then deliver the Khutbah after the Salah.”12

 ‘Ata narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas and Jabir bin Abdullah said: “There was no Adhan for the Salah of
‘Eid ul-Fitr and ‘Eid ul-Adha.”13

 Jabir bin Samurah narrated: I prayed with the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) two
‘Eid prayers more than once or twice (and they were prayed) without an Adhan or Iqamah. 14

 ‘Amr bin Shu’aib narrated from his father on the authority of his grandfather that the Prophet
(may peace be upon him) said: “The takbirs in ‘Eid ul-Fitr prater are seven in the first Rak’ah and
five in the second, and the recitation of the Qur’an in both is after the Takbir.” 15

9
Baihaqi: 3/297
10
Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaibah : 1/488
11
Baihaqi: 3/316
12
Bukhari, Two ‘Eid prayers: The ‘Eid prayer is performed before delivering the Khutbah, Hadith: 957
13
Bukhari, Two ‘Eids, Chapter: Walking and riding for he ‘Eid prayer, Hadith: 960
14
Muslim, Two prayer of two ‘Eids, Chapter: Two ‘Eid prayers, Hadith: 887
15
Abu Da’ud, As-Salat, Chapter: Takbir in the two ‘Eid prayers, Hadith: 1151
Recitation in the Two ‘Eid prayers

 Ubaidullah bin ‘Abdullah said: ‘Umar bin Khattab asked Abu Waqid Al-Laithi, “What did the
Messenger of Allah sue to recite in ‘Eid ul-Adha and ‘Eid ul-Fitr prayers?” He said: He used to
recite Surah Qaf (No. 50) and Surah Al-Qamar (No. 54) in them.” 16

 Ibn Abbas narrated: “The Prophet (may peace be upon him) used to recite during the two ‘Eid
prayers Surah Al-‘A’la (No. 87) and Surah Al-Ghashiyah (No. 88).”17

Voluntary Prayer before or after the ‘Eid Prayer

 Ibn Abbas disliked performing voluntary prayer before the ‘Eid prayer. Ibn Abbas narrated: “The
Prophet (may peace be upon him) went out and performed a two rak’ah prayer on the day of
Fitr and did not perform any other prayer before or after it and at that time Bilal was
accompanying him.” 18

Whoever Missed the ‘Eid Prayer

 Women and those who are at home and in the villages should hold their own ‘Eid prayer (2
Rak’ah) where they are at, as is confirmed by the statement of the Prophet (may peace be upon
him): “O Muslims, this is our ‘Eid.”

 At Az-Zawiya, Anas bin Malik ordered his slave, Ibn Abi ‘Utbah to collect his (Anas’s) family and
offspring. Anas then led a prayer similar to that performed by the people of any town and
recited Takbir similar to theirs.

 Ikrimah said, “The villagers should gather on day of ‘Eid and perform the two rak’ah prayer.” 19

16
Muslim, Two ‘Eid Days, Chapter: What to be recited in ‘Eid prayers, Hadith: 891
17
Ibn Majah, As-Salat, Chapter: Recitation during two ‘Eid prayers, Hadith: 1283
18
Bukhari, Two ‘Eids, Chapter: The performing of Salah before or after the ‘Eid prayer, Hadid: 989
19
Imam Bukhari narrated it under the Chapter: Whoever missed the Salat ul-Eid should perform two rak’ah
prayers.
Taking a Different Path Home on the Day of ‘Eid

 Jabir bin ‘Abdullah narrated: “On the day of ‘Eid, the Prophet (may peace be upon him) used to
return (after performing the ‘Eid prayer) through a way different from that by which he usually
went.” 20

 That is while going to the praying place for ‘Eid, he adopted a certain route, but when coming
back from there, he chose a different one. This is so that different places may testify the worship
and the splendor of Islam may become prominent and also so that one may offer his greetings
to many people.

20
Bukhari, Two ‘Eids, Chapter: Whoever returned on the day of ‘Eid through a way different from that by which he
went, Hadith: 986