“The greatest day in the sight of Allah, may He be blessed and exalted, is the Day of Sacrifice…”
(Abu Dawud)
Sunnahs pertaining to the day of ‘Eid-ul-Adha:
1. The Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) used to do ghusl on the day of ‘Eid.
2. He (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) used to wear his most beautiful garments and apply perfume on Eid. However, women should avoid these when they go out for ‘Eid and in the presence of non-mehram.
3. With regard to ‘Eid-ul-Adha, the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) used not to eat anything until he came back from the place of prayer. He would eat some of the meat of his sacrifice. He (s) said Eat of it and feed of it to others. (Bukhari) If a person is not planning to offer a sacrifice, then there is nothing wrong with eating before the prayer.
4. And he (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) used to go out to the ‘Eid prayer walking and come back walking. He (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) used to vary his route on the day of ‘Eid. He would go by one route and come back by another.
5. Another sunnah is to say the takbeerat “Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, laa ilaaha illAllah, wa Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar wa lillaah il-hamd (Allah is Most Great, Allah is most Great, there is no god but Allah, Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great, and to Allah be praise)” when coming out of one’s house to the prayer place and until the imam comes (also takbeerat must be recited during the days of Tashreeq (i.e. next 3 days))
6. The Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) used to offer the ‘Eid prayers in the prayer-place (musalla).
7. He (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) did not offer any prayer in the prayer-place before or after the ‘Eid prayer.
8. The ‘Eid prayer does not consist of an adhaan or an iqaamah.
9. The Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) would start with the prayer before the khutbah.
10. There are seven takbeerat in the first raka’h and five takbeerat in the second raka’h of ‘Eid prayer (Tirmidhi).
11. The khutbah after the ‘Eid prayer is optional. Abu Dawood narrated that ‘Abdullah ibn al-Saa’ib said: “I attended ‘Eid (prayer) with the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam), and when he had finished the prayer he said: ‘We are going to deliver the khutbah, so whoever wants to sit and listen to the khutbah, let him do so, and whoever wants to leave, let him go.’”
12. Exchange du’a, congratulations or good wishes with the people at the end of the khutbah. Examples include: Taqabbal Allah minna wa minkum (May Allah accept (good deeds) from us and from you) or “Eid Mubarak” and other permissible expressions of congratulations.
13. The Days of Tashreeq: The days of Tashreeq are the 11th, 12th and 13th of Dhul Hijjah. The Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said concerning the days of Tashreeq: “They are days of eating, drinking and remembering Allah.” (Ahmad) It is recommended to remember Allah immediately after the prescribed prayers by reciting the takbeerat. This is prescribed until the end of the days of Tashreeq according to the majority of scholars.
Taqabbal Allah minna wa minkum!
