Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are the festivals of Muslims
❀ «عن عائشة رضي الله عنها، قالت: دخل ابوبكر وعندي جاريتان من جواري الانصار تغنيان بما تقاولت الانصار يوم بعاث، قالت: وليستا بمغنيتين، فقال ابوبكر: امزامير الشيطان فى بيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وذلك فى يوم عيد، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم:” يا ابا بكر إن لكل قوم عيدا وهذا عيدنا”.»
Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that Hazrat Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) came, and two girls from the Ansar were singing a poem about the day of the Battle of Badr near me, and these girls were not professional singers. Hazrat Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Is this satanic music in the house of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)? And it was the day of Eid. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Abu Bakr! Every nation has a festival, and today is our festival.”
❀ «عن انس رضى الله عنه، قال: قدم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم المدينة ولهم يومان يلعبون فيهما، فقال:” ما هذان اليومان؟” قالوا: كنا نلعب فيهما فى الجاهلية، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم:” إن الله قد ابدلكم بهما خيرا منهما: يوم الاضحى، ويوم الفطر”.»
Hazrat Anas رضي الله عنه says that (after the migration) the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم came to Medina. The people of Medina had set aside two days for playing and amusement. The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم asked: “What are these two days?” They said that in the time of ignorance, we used to play on these days. The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: “Allah Almighty has given you two better days in place of these: one is the day of Adha and the other is the day of Fitr.”
Saying Takbeer on the Day of Eid
Allah Almighty says:
✿ «وَلِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ»
So that you complete the number of fasts, and that you glorify Allah for having guided you, and that you may be grateful.
❀ «عن نافع، عن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما، أنه كان إذا غدا يوم الأضحى ويوم الفطر يجهر بالتكبير، حتى يأتي المصلى، ثم يكبر حتى يأتي الإمام»
Hazrat Nafi’ (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with both of them), when going out on the day of Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr (to the Eidgah), would say Takbeer loudly until they reached the Eidgah, then they would continue saying Takbeer until the Imam arrived.
❀ «عن الزهري رحمه الله، أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يخرج يوم الفطر، فيكبر حتى يأتي المصلي، وحتى يقضي الصلاة، فإذا قضى الصلاة، قطع التكبير.»
Imam Zahri, may Allah have mercy on him, says that the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, would go out on the day of Eid al-Fitr, saying Takbeer until he reached the Eid ground and performed the prayer. After the prayer, he would stop saying Takbeer.
Note: It is Sunnah to say Takbeer from the night of Eid after sunset until the Eid prayer. It is recommended for men to say Takbeer loudly in markets, homes, streets, mosques, and public gatherings. This way, the Sunnah will be expressed and revived, and the method of the pious predecessors will be followed. Women, if alone, should say Takbeer loudly, and if around their men, should say it softly. Through Takbeer, we declare the greatness and majesty of Allah, express our servitude and worship, and thank Allah for the blessing He granted in the form of fasting and Taraweeh.
Words of Takbeer:
❀ «عن شريك، قال: قلت لأبي إسحاق : كيف كان يكبر على رضي الله عنه، وعبد الله رضي الله عنه؟ قال: كانا يقولان : الله أكبر، الله أكبر، لا إله إلا الله والله أكبر، الله أكبر، ولله الحمد» .
Shareek says that I asked Abu Ishaq how Hazrat Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, and Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood, may Allah be pleased with him, used to say Takbeer? He said both used to say: «الله أكبر، الله أكبر، لا إله إلا الله، والله أكبر، الله أكبر، ولله الحمد.»
❀ It is reported about Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them, that he used to say Takbeer in these words: «الله أكبر، الله أكبر، الله أكبر، ولله الحمد، الله أكبر وأجل، الله أكبر على ما هدانا.»
Note: Any of these Takbeer phrases or other authentic phrases can be chosen.
Taking a bath for Eid
❀ «عن نافع، أن عبد الله بن عمر رضي الله عنهما كان يغتسل يوم الفطر قبل أن يغدو إلى المصلي.»
Hazrat Nafi (may Allah have mercy on him) says that Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) used to take a bath before going to the Eidgah on the day of Eid al-Fitr.
❀ «قيل لنافع: كيف كان ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما يصنع يوم العيد؟ قال: كان يشهد صلاة الفجر مع الإمام، ثم يرجع إلى بيته، فيغتسل غسله من الجنابة، ويلبس أحسن ثيابه، ويتطيب بأطيب ما عنده، ثم يخرج حتى يأتي المصلي»
Hazrat Nafi (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked about the routine of Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) on the day of Eid. He replied: “He would pray Fajr prayer with the Imam, then return home and take a bath, wear the best clothes, apply the best perfume, and then set out for the Eidgah.”
Note: Allama Ibn Qudamah (may Allah have mercy on him) says: It is recommended to take a bath on the day of Eid. Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) used to take a bath on the day of Eid al-Fitr. This practice is also reported from Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him).
Adorning Oneself for Eid
❀ «عن ن عبد الله بن عمر قال: اخذ عمر رضى الله عنه جبة من إستبرق تباع فى السوق فاخذها، فاتى بها رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، فقال: يا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ابتع هذه تجمل بها للعيد والوفود، فقال له رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم:” إنما هذه لباس من لا خلاق له فلبث عمر رضى الله عنه ما شاء الله ان يلبث، ثم ارسل إليه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بجبة ديباج، فاقبل بها عمر رضى الله عنه، فاتى بها رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال: يا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إنك قلت إنما هذه لباس من لا خلاق له وارسلت إلى بهذه الجبة، فقال له رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: تبيعها او تصيب بها حاجتك”.»
Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) narrates that Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) took a silk cloak that was being sold in the market and brought it to the Prophet (peace be upon him), saying: O Messenger of Allah! Please buy it and wear it on Eid and on the day the delegation arrives to adorn yourself. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “This is the garment of a person who has no share in the Hereafter.” Then Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) refrained from wearing such garments for some days. Later, the Prophet (peace be upon him) sent him a silk cloak, so Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) took it and came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah! You said that this is the garment of a person who has no share in the Hereafter, yet you have sent this cloak to me? The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Sell it, or use it to fulfill some other need of yours.”
Note: Scholars have deduced from this hadith that one should adorn oneself and wear fine clothes on Eid, because when Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) spoke about buying a fine outfit for Eid, the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not object to that, and only forbade taking it because the cloth was silk. Allama Ibn Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) states: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to wear his finest clothes for the two Eids, and he had a specific outfit which he wore for the two Eids and Fridays.
Eating something before going to the Eidgah
❀ «عن انس بن مالك رضي الله عنهما، قال:” كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لا يغدو يوم الفطر حتى ياكل تمرات”
وفي رواية وياكلهن وترا.»
Hazrat Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنهما says: The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم did not go to the Eidgah on the day of Eid al-Fitr without eating dates. And in one narration, it is mentioned that he صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم used to eat an odd number of dates.
❀ «عن بريدة رضي الله عنه، قال: كان النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم لا يخرج يوم الفطر حتى يطعم، ولا يطعم يوم الأضحى حتى يصلي.»
Hazrat Buraydah رضي الله عنه says: The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم did not set out for the Eidgah on the day of Eid al-Fitr until he had eaten something, and on the day of Eid al-Adha, he did not eat anything until he had performed the Eid prayer. Sunan Tirmidhi 542,
Going to the Eidgah for Eid prayers
❀ «عن أبى سعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه، قال: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يخرج يوم الفطر والأضحى إلى المصلي.»
Hazrat Abu Saeed Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to go to the Eidgah on the days of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.”
Note: It is Sunnah and preferable to perform the Eid prayer by going outside the city to the Eidgah. However, if it is raining or there is another excuse, the Eid prayer can be performed in the mosque.
Going to the Eidgah on foot
❀ «عن ابن عمر رضي الله عنها، قال: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يخرج إلى العيد ماشيا، ويرجع ماشيا.»
Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to go to the Eidgah on foot and return on foot.
Note: Going to the Eidgah on foot is Sunnah and preferable, but if the Eidgah is far, or if there is an elderly person who finds it difficult to walk, or if someone is ill, or there is another excuse, there is no harm in going to the Eidgah by vehicle.
Changing the route to and from the Eidgah
❀ «عن جابر بن عبد رضي الله عنهما، قال: كان النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا كان يوم عيد خالف الطريق.»
Hazrat Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them) narrates: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to change the route to and from the Eidgah on all the days of Eid.
The emphatic command for Eid prayers
❀ «عن ام عطية، قالت: ” امرنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ان نخرجهن فى الفطر والاضحى: العواتق والحيض وذوات الخدور، فاما الحيض فيعتزلن الصلاة ويشهدن الخير ودعوة المسلمين “، قلت: يا رسول الله إحدانا لا يكون لها جلباب، قال: ” لتلبسها اختها من جلبابها “.»
Hazrat Umm Atiyah (may Allah be pleased with her) says: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) commanded us to bring young women, those menstruating, and women observing purdah to the Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha prayers. However, women who are menstruating should not pray, but should participate in the supplication for goodness with the Muslims. I asked: O Messenger of Allah! What if one of us does not have a jilbab? He (peace be upon him) said: “Her companion should take her under her jilbab.”
The command for Adhan and Iqamah for Eid prayers
❀ «عن جابر بن سميرة رضي الله عنه، قال: صليت مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم العيدين، غير مرة ولا مرتين، بغير أذان ولا إقامة.»
Hazrat Jabir bin Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: I have prayed Eid prayers with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) many times without Adhan and Iqamah.
Ruling on Nafl Prayer with Eid Prayers
❀ «عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما : أن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم صلى يوم الفطر ركعتين، لم يصل قبلها ولا بعدها»
Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) says: The Prophet (peace be upon him) prayed two rak’ahs of Eid prayer on the day of Eid al-Fitr; he neither prayed any (nafl) prayer before it nor after it.
Number of Rak’ahs of the Two Eid Prayers
❀ «عن عمر رضي الله عنه، قال: صلاه السفر ركعتان، وصلاة الجمعة ركعتان، والفطر والأضحى ركعتان، تمام غير قصر، على لسان محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم .»
Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) says: The prayer of travel is two rak’ahs, the Friday prayer is two rak’ahs, the Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha prayers are two rak’ahs; these two rak’ahs of these prayers are complete, not shortened. And this is from the words of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).
Number of Additional Takbirs in the Eid Prayers
❀ «عن عائشة، ان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم” كان يكبر فى الفطر والاضحى فى الاولى سبع تكبيرات، وفي الثانية خمسا”.»
Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said seven takbirs in the first rak’ah and five in the second rak’ah during Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
❀ «عن علقمة، والأسود بن يزيد، أن ابن مسعود رضى الله عنه كان يكبر فى اليدين تسعا تسعا، أربعا قبل القراءة، ثم كبر فركع، وفي الثانية يقرأ، فإذا كبر أربعا، ثم ركع.»
Alqamah and Aswad state that Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood (may Allah be pleased with him) would say nine takbeers in the two Eid prayers, (in the first rak’ah) he would say four takbeers before the recitation, then after the recitation he would say takbeer and go into ruku, and in the second rak’ah he would recite, and when he finished, he would say four takbeers, then go into ruku. “
Note: The four takbeers before the recitation in the first rak’ah include the takbeer al-tahrimah, and the four takbeers after the recitation in the second rak’ah include the takbeer for ruku, thus in each rak’ah there are three additional takbeers.
Allama Ibn Abdul Barr (may Allah have mercy on him), after mentioning both opinions, declared all of them permissible, stating that there is no harm in any of them, and this difference (allowing both opinions) indicates that there is ease and expansiveness in this matter.
Allama Albani, may Allah have mercy on him, says: “The correct view is that there is great flexibility regarding the Takbeerat of the two Eids; whoever wishes may say four each time, and whoever wishes may say seven in the first Rak’ah and five in the second. All of these are permissible, and whoever acts upon any of them is acting according to Sunnah. There is no need for prejudice or sectarianism. Although seven and five is more preferable in my view because there are more narrations for it.”
Recommended Recitation in Eid Prayer
❀ «عن أبى واقد الليثي الله عنه، قال: سألني عمر بن الخطاب رضي الله عنه: عما قرا به رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فى يوم العيد؟ فقلت : ب ﴿اقْتَرَبَتِ السَّاعَةُ ﴾ ، و ﴿ق ۚ وَالْقُرْآنِ الْمَجِيدِ ﴾ .»
❀ «وفي رواية: ما كان يقرأ به رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فى الأضحى والفطر؟ فقال: كان يقرأ فيهما ب ﴿ق ۚ وَالْقُرْآنِ الْمَجِيدِ ﴾ و ﴿اقْتَرَبَتِ السَّاعَةُ وَانشَقَّ الْقَمَرُ ﴾ »
Hazrat Abu Waqid Al-Laythi (may Allah be pleased with him) said that Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) asked me which Surahs the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to recite on Eid day? I said: Surah Al-Qamar and Surah Qaf.
In another narration, it is mentioned that Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) asked which Surahs the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to recite in the Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr prayers? Hazrat Abu Waqid (may Allah be pleased with him) replied: “Surah Qaf and Surah Al-Qamar.”
❀ «عن النعمان بن بشير رضي الله عنه، قال: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقرأ فى العيدين، وفي الجمعة ب ﴿سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى ﴾ ، و ﴿هَلْ أَتَاكَ حَدِيثُ الْغَاشِيَةِ ﴾ ، He said: And if Eid and Friday coincide on the same day, these are also recited in both prayers.»
Hazrat Nu’man bin Bashir (RA) says that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to recite Surah Al-A’la and Surah Al-Ghashiyah in the Eid and Friday prayers. He said, “And if Eid and Friday both coincided on the same day, he would recite both these Surahs in both prayers.”
Prayer before the sermon
❀ «عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما، قال:” شهدت العيد مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، وابي بكر، وعمر، وعثمان رضي الله عنهم فكلهم كانوا يصلون قبل الخطبة”.»
Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (RA) says: “I prayed the Eid prayer with the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), and with Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA), Hazrat Umar (RA), and Hazrat Uthman (RA). All of these companions used to pray before the sermon.”
❀ «عن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما، قال: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم،وأبو بكر وعمر رضي الله عنهما، يصلون العيدين قبل الخطبة.»
Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (RA) says: “The Messenger of Allah (PBUH), Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA), and Hazrat Umar (RA) used to pray the Eid prayers before the sermon.”
Greeting on Eid
❀ «عن محمد بن زياد، قال: كنت مع أبى أمامة الباهلي رضى الله عنه وغير من أصحاب النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم، فكانوا إذا رجعوا من العيد يقول بعضهم لبعض: تقبل الله منا ومنك.»
Muhammad bin Ziyad, may Allah have mercy on him, says: I stayed with Hazrat Abu Umamah Bahili, may Allah be pleased with him, and other companions, may Allah be pleased with them. When these gentlemen returned from the Eid prayer, they would say to each other: «تقبل الله منا ومنك» May Allah accept our and your worship.
Imam Ahmad graded its chain of narration as “Jayyid” (good).
❀ «عن جبير بن نفير، قال: كان أصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا التقوا يوم العيد يقول بعضهم لبعض: تقبل الله منا منك.»
Jabir bin Nufair, may Allah have mercy on him, says: “When the noble companions, may Allah be pleased with them, met on the day of Eid, they would say to each other: «تقبل الله منا ومنک» May Allah accept our and your acts of worship.”
Note: Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, says: There is no harm if people say «تقبل الله منا ومنك» to each other on the day of Eid.
And when Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, was asked about congratulating on Eid, he said: “Congratulating through supplications such as «تقبل الله منا ومنكم» (May Allah accept our and your acts of worship) and «أحاله الله عليك» (May Allah bring this blessed day repeatedly in your life) after the Eid prayer has been narrated from some companions, may Allah be pleased with them, and Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, and other noble scholars have permitted it.”
Therefore, these words and other similar words and supplications can be used to congratulate each other, provided they are not contrary to Islamic law.
Playing, jumping, and celebrating on Eid day
❀ «عن عائشة رضي الله عنها، قالت: دخل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وعندي جاريتان تغنيان بغناء بعاث، فاضطجع على الفراش وحول وجهه، فدخل ابوبكر رضى الله عنه فانتهرني، وقال: مزمار الشيطان عند رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، فاقبل عليه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، فقال: ” دعهما “، فلما غفل غمزتهما فخرجتا، وكان يوم عيد يلعب السودان بالدرق والحراب، فإما سالت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، وإما قال: ” تشتهين تنظرين “، فقلت: نعم، فاقامني وراءه خدي على خده، وهو يقول: ” دونكم يا بني ارفدة “، حتى إذا مللت، قال: ” حسبك “، قلت: نعم، قال: ” فاذهبي “.»
Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) came to me while two girls were singing songs related to the Battle of Badr. The Prophet (peace be upon him) lay down on the bed and turned his face away. Then Hazrat Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) came and scolded me, saying, “This is a satanic instrument, and that too in the presence of the Prophet (peace be upon him)?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Leave these two alone.” Then when he turned away, I signaled to the two girls to leave, and they went away. On Eid day, the Abyssinians used to play with shields and spears, so either I requested you, or you said: “Do you want to watch?” I said yes, so the Prophet (peace be upon him) made me stand behind him, my cheek against his cheek. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “O Bani Arfida! Show the spectacle,” until I got tired. Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) asked, “Enough?” I said yes, and he said, “Then go.”
❀ «عن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه، قال: بينا الحبشه يلعبون عند النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم بجرابهم، دخل عمر رضي الله عنه، فأهوى إلى الحصى فحبصهم بها، فقال: دعهم يا عمر).»
Hazrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Abyssinians were playing with their spears in front of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). At that moment, Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) came and picked up some stones and threw them at them. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Umar! Leave them alone.”
Sahih Bukhari 2901, Sahih Muslim 893.
