Eids or Festivals are moments of celebration common to all nations.  The festivals of non-believing nations are associated with worldly matters such as the birth of a nation or its decline, the appointment or crowning of a ruler, his marriage, or the

beginning of a season like spring, and so on. As to Muslims, their festivals (Eids) are associated with their religious rituals.  They have only   two festivals or Eids:  Eid Al-Fitr (Celebration of the end of Ramadan) and Eid Al Adha (festival of sacrifice).  When the Prophet, Sallallahu alaihi wa salam, came to Medina and found the people celebrating two days he said:  “ What are these occasions”?  They said: “We used to celebrate them in Jahilya (before the coming of Islam)”.  He then said : “ Allah, Subhana wa Ta’ala, has replaced them for you with the two better days (i.e. Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha)”.  These two festivals which Allah Subhana wa Ta’ala, prescribed to the Muslims are part of the rituals of Islam which should be commemorated and the purposes of which should be understood.  

Rules Pertaining to Eid:  

1    It is forbidden to fast on the day of both Eids, as it is understood from the hadeeth narrated by Abee Sa’eed that the Prophet, Sallallahu alaihi wa salam, forbade the fasting of the two Eids.

2     It is recommended that both men and women observe Eid prayer in an open field as is clear in the hadeeth narrated by Um Atiya, may Allah, Subhana wa Ta’ala, be pleased with her, who said:  “We used to be ordered to come out on the day of Eid and even to bring the virgin girls from their houses and menstruating women so that they might stand behind the men and say takbir along with them and hope for the blessings of that day for purification from sins”.  Since menstruating women as well as those who are virgin are commanded to observe Eid prayer, there is no doubt that the men, old and young are even strongly commanded to observe it.

3    Eid prayer should be performed before the khutba of Eid as is confirmed in the hadeeth narrated by Ibn Amr, Abee Sa’eed, and Ibn Abbas, may Allah, Subhana wa Ta’ala, be pleased with them.

4     It is recommended that the Imaam makes Takbeer (Allah-u-Akbar) during the prayer, seven times in the first Raka’at and five in the second.  This has been confirmed by the companions of the Salaf (the righteous generation of the predecessors).

5     It is recommended that the Imaam recites in the first Raka’at Surah Al-A’laa (ch.87) and Surah Al Ghaashiah (ch.88) in the second.  Other reports also show that the Prophet, sallallahu alaihi wa salam, used to recite Surat Qaaf (ch.50) and Surat Al-Qamar (ch.54) as is confirmed in Sahih Muslim.

6     There is no Sunnah prayer either before or after Eid prayer as Ibn Abbas, may Allah, Subhanwa wa Ta’ala, be pleased with him, narrated that whenever the Prophet, Sallallahu alaihi wa salam, went for Eid prayer, he used to pray two Raka’ats (of Eid) but nothing before or after them.  

Good deed pertaining to Eid:  

1-   Having a bath before going out to prayer; this is confirmed in Imaam Malik’s Al-Muwatta, and other books that Abdullah Ibn Omar used to take a bath on the day of Eid Al-Fitr before going out for Eid prayer.  It has also been confirmed that Sa’eed bin Jubair, may Allah, Subhana wa Ta’ala, be pleased with him, said: “ The Sunnah of Eid lies in three acts: Walking to the open field where the prayer takes place, taking a bath, and eating before going out to pray”. Yet on the day of Eid Al-Adha, it is rather recommended that the Muslim eat after the Eid prayer and not before, and first from his sacrificial animal.

2-   Making Takbeer (glorification of Allah, Subhana wa Ta’ala,) on the day of Eid. It has also been reported that Ibn Omar used to make Takbeer whenever he went out for Eid prayer.  the making of Takbeer between one’s home and the place of prayer until the Imaam enters the mosque used to be a common practice among the Salaf. Furthermore, Naafi’ Ibn Jubair used to make Takbeer and used to express his astonishment that people did not do so; he would say to them: ‘Why will not your make Takbeer”?   To conclude, it has been prescribed that the Muslims make Takbeer from the moment they leave their homes till they reach the prayer field.

The wording of Takbeer is:  

Allahu-Akbar (Twice)  

Laa-e-laaha illa-Allah.

Allahu-Akbar  (Twice)

Wa-Lillahi Al Hamad.

3.    Slaughtering the sacrifice on the day of al Adha on one’s behalf and on behalf of his family. It is recommended to be soon after the Eid prayer but it could be done on the two or three days after the day of al Adha .

4.    It is recommended to say Takbeer after daily Jamaa’s prayers starting from Fajr prayer of the day of Arafah (the 9^th) to ‘Aser prayer on the last day of Al Tashreeq (the 13^th).

5.    Congratulation is one of the rules of Eid, exchanged between the Muslims ,especially relatives and friends,in any manner such as telling each other: “May Allah, accept from us and from you”.  This congratulation is a sign of high moral standards and the virtues of social manifestations among the Muslims.

6.     Adorning oneself by wearing the best clothes one has as Bukhari reported on the authority of Abdullah Ibn Omar, who said: “ Omar bought a silk cloak from the market, took it to the Prophet, Sallallahu alaihi wa salam, and said: “O Allah’s Apostle! take it and adorn yourself with it during the Eids and when the delegations visit you.  Allah’s Apostle answered: “ This dress is for those who have no share in the Here-after”.  

 This then proves that adorning oneself in Eid was a familiar practice in the time of the Prophet, Sallallahu alaihi wa salam, but he blamed Omar for buying that dress because it was made of silk which men are not allowed to wear.  

Jabir, may Allah, Subhana wa Ta’ala, be pleased with him, said that the Prophet, sallallahu alaihi wa salam, used to wear a Jubbah on Fridays and on the days of Eid”.  The men are therefore supposed to wear their best clothes on Eid day.  

-As for women, they should avoid adorning themselves when they go out of their homes because they are forbidden to reveal their adornment in front of men who are foreign to them.  

Similarly, if is forbidden for women to put on perfume on the day of Eid (as well as other occasions) when they go out because it is for the purpose of obedience that they are allowed to go out of their homes; will it then be accepted of a believing women to disobey Allah Subhana wa Ta’ala, by wearing tight fitting, multi-coloured attractive clothes or spraying herself with perfume?