This excerpt is taken from Dr. Tariq Humayun Sheikh's book Eid ul-Adha.
Sunnah Practices to Perform on Eid ul-Adha (10th Dhu al-Hijjah)
❀ Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Qurt رضي الله عنه narrates that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: "The most magnificent day in the sight of Allah is Yawm al-Nahr (10th Dhu al-Hijjah), and after that is Yawm al-Qarr (11th Dhu al-Hijjah)."
Reference: (Sunan Abu Dawood: 1765, Musnad Ahmad: 4/350)
This hadith is also narrated by Hakim, Ibn Khuzaymah, Ibn Hibban, and Bayhaqi.
❀ Sayyiduna Anas رضي الله عنه narrates that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to Madinah, the people of Madinah had two days on which they used to play and have fun. The Prophet ﷺ asked: "What are these two days?" They said: "We used to play on these days during the time of ignorance." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Indeed, Allah has replaced them for you with better days: the day of Adha (sacrifice) and the day of Fitr."
Reference: (Sunan Abu Dawood: 1134, Sunan Nasai: 1557)
Pure fine clothes, fragrance, and bath:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "On the day of Jumu'ah, it is obligatory for every adult (Muslim) to take a bath, use a miswak, and apply perfume if available."
Reference: (Sahih Bukhari: 887, 880; Sahih Muslim: 252, 846, 847; Sunan Abu Dawood: 344; Sunan Nasai: 1376; Sunan Tirmidhi: 494; Sunan Ibn Majah: 1084; Muwatta Imam Malik: 142)
❀ Sayyiduna Abu Saeed Khudri (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "On the day of Jumu'ah, it is obligatory for every adult Muslim to take a bath."
Reference: (Sahih Bukhari: 895; Sahih Muslim: 844; Sunan Abu Dawood: 344; Sunan Nasai: 1378; Sunan Ibn Majah: 1089)
❀ Sayyiduna Nafi' (RA) reports that Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (RA) used to take a bath before going to the Eidgah on the day of Eid al-Fitr.
Reference: (Muwatta Imam Malik: 422; Musannaf Abdul Razzaq: 5753; Sunan Bayhaqi: 6125)
❀ It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (RA) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to take a bath on the days of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
Reference: (Sunan Ibn Majah: 1315)
❀ Wearing fine clothes on Jumu'ah, the two Eids, and special occasions is Sunnah.
Reference: (Sahih Bukhari: 886; Sahih Muslim: 892, 538; Sunan Abu Dawood: 1076; Sunan Nasai: 1381)
❀ On the day of Jumu'ah coinciding with Eid, the Prophet ﷺ said: "Today two Eids (two joys) have come together, and whoever wishes, this Eid prayer (for Jumu'ah) will suffice for him."
Reference: (Sunan Abu Dawood: 1070; Sunan Ibn Majah: 1310)
❀ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Allah, the Lord of Glory, loves the servant who uses the blessings He has given (adorns the body with fine clothes and Shariah-compliant adornment)."
Reference: (Sunan Tirmidhi: 2819)
Explanation:
On Friday, it is emphasized to take a bath, use a miswak, and apply perfume, so on the two Eids, which are the festivals of happiness for Muslims, it is also preferable to take a bath, use a miswak, apply perfume, and wear fine clothes.
Therefore, while avoiding extravagance, one should take a bath, use a miswak, wear clean and fine clothes or new clothes, men should apply perfume, and women should completely avoid showy makeup, attend the Eid prayer at the Eidgah without applying perfume, while avoiding immodesty and indecency.
Not eating anything before Eid al-Adha prayer:
❀ The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, did not eat anything before performing the Eid al-Adha prayer but would return home after the prayer and eat from his sacrifice.
Reference: (Sunan Tirmidhi: 542, Muwatta Imam Malik: 426)
Performing prayer at the Eidgah:
❀ The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, used to go to the Eidgah to perform the Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha prayers.
Reference: (Sahih Bukhari: 956, 982; Sahih Muslim: 885 - 884, 845, 844; Sunan Nasai: 1590; Sunan Abu Dawood: 2811; Sunan Ibn Majah: 3161)
❀ In case of rain, (only once) the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, performed the Eid prayer in the mosque.
Reference: (Sunan Abu Dawood: 1160; Sunan Ibn Majah: 1313)
Changing the route when going to and returning from the Eidgah:
❀ The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, took one route while going to the Eidgah for the Eid prayer and returned by a different route.
Reference: (Sahih Bukhari: 986; Sunan Abu Dawood: 1156; Sunan Ibn Majah: 1299; Sunan Tirmidhi: 541)
Performing the Eid al-Adha prayer early:
❀ The very first act on the day of Eid al-Adha is to perform the Eid prayer.
Reference: (Sahih Bukhari: 951, 968; Sahih Muslim: 885; Sunan Abu Dawood: 2800; Sunan Tirmidhi: 1508; Sunan Nasai: 1580)
❀ Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Basar (RA) disliked the delay of the Imam when people gathered for Eid al-Fitr or Eid al-Adha prayer and said, "We would have finished by that time; it would be the time for the Duha (Ishraq) prayer."
Reference: (Sunan Abu Dawood: 1135; Sunan Ibn Majah: 1317)
Women going for Eid prayer:
❀ The Divine Command is:
فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ
"(It is the command of your Lord) So pray to your Lord and sacrifice (offer a sacrifice)."
Reference: (108-Al-Kawthar:2)
This address of Allah Almighty is for both women and men.
❀ Umm Atiyah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) commanded us to take women who are sitting in seclusion (purdah) along with us on the day of Eid. It was asked about those who are menstruating? The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "They too are good and included in the prayers of the Muslims." A woman said: O Messenger of Allah, if someone does not have a sheet, how should she manage? The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Her sister (friend) should let her wear a part of her sheet."
Reference: (Sahih Bukhari: 974, Sahih Muslim: 890, Sunan Abu Dawood: 1136, Sunan Nasai: 1559, Sunan Ibn Majah: 1307, Sunan Tirmidhi: 540)
Women who are menstruating and virgin girls going to the Eidgah:
❀ Umm Atiyah (may Allah be pleased with her) said that during the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), we were instructed to go towards the Eidgah. Virgin girls and menstruating women also came out in purdah. They all stayed behind the men. When the men said Takbeer, they also said Takbeer, and when they prayed, they also prayed. They hoped to attain the blessings and purity of that day.
Reference: (Sahih Bukhari: 97, Sahih Muslim: 890, Sunan Abu Dawood: 1138)
❀ It is obligatory for young girls and menstruating women to also attend the Eidgah. Menstruating women should remain separate in the Eidgah.
Reference: (Sahih Bukhari: 974, Sahih Muslim: 890, Sunan Abu Dawood: 1137, Sunan Nasai: 1560, Sunan Ibn Majah: 1308, Sunan Tirmidhi: 540)
Greeting on Eid:
It is written in Sunan Bayhaqi that the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), when returning after performing the prayer, would say the words تقبل الله منا ومنكم to each other.
Explanation:
Embracing (hugging) is not proven from any Hadith, therefore this act is not Sunnah. It is a social custom and there is no harm in it, so there is no objection to hugging.
Slaughtering the sacrificial animal:
❀ The command of the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is that the sacrificial animal should be slaughtered after offering the Eid prayer. If it is slaughtered before the prayer, then another animal must be slaughtered after the prayer.
Reference: (Sahih Bukhari: 954, 5562; Sahih Muslim: 1960; Sunan Abu Dawood: 2800; Sunan Tirmidhi: 1508; Sunan Nasai: 1580; Muwatta Imam Malik: 1051)
❀ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to slaughter the sacrificial animal at the Eidgah after offering the prayer.
Reference: (Sahih Bukhari: 982; Sunan Nasai: 1590; Sunan Abu Dawood: 2811; Sunan Ibn Majah: 3161)
Eating the meat of the sacrifices:
❀ By the command of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, one piece of meat was taken from each camel and cooked. Then the Prophet ﷺ and the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, ate some meat and drank the broth.
Reference: (Sunan Ibn Majah: 3158; Musnad Ahmad: 3/331)
Celebrating and playing games on Eid day:
Celebrating and playing games, etc., is permissible. However, actions that have been prohibited and those that lead to sin should not be done.
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 892 Sunan Ibn Majah: 3158, Sunan Nasai: 1594 - 1598 Musnad Ahmad: 3/331)
