Islam | The complete way of life

NEWSLETTER
Volume 1, Issue 2

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Etiquette of Eid
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and peace and blessings be upon our
Prophet Muhammad and upon all his family and companions.

The Muslims are distinguished by their festivals

The Prophet’s words “ Every nation has its festival, and this is your festival”
indicate that these two Eids are exclusively for the Muslims, and that it is not
permissible for Muslims to imitate the kuffaar and mushrikeen in anything that
is a distinctive part of their celebrations, whether it be food, dress, bonfires or
acts of worship. Muslim children should not be allowed to play on those kaafir
festivals, or to put up decorations, or to join in with the kuffaar on those
occasions. All kaafir or innovated festivals are haraam, such as Independence
Day celebrations, anniversaries of revolutions, holidays celebrating trees or
accessions to the throne, birthdays, Labour Day, the Nile festival, Shimm al-
Naseem (Egyptian spring holiday), teachers’ day, and al-Mawlood al-Nabawi
(Prophet’s Birthday). .

The Muslims have no festivals apart from Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adhaa, because
of the hadeeth narrated from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:

“The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)

came to Medina and the people had two days when they would play
and have fun. He said, ‘What are these two days?’ They said, ‘We used
to play and have fun on these days during the Jaahiliyyah. The
Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,
‘Allah has given you something better than them, the day of Adha and
the day of Fitr.’” (Sunan Abi Dawood, 1134)

These two Eids are among the signs or symbols of Allah which we must
celebrate and understand the aims and meanings behind them.

Below are several sunnahs that the Prophet (p.b.u.h) himself has done:

1 – Doing ghusl before going out to the prayer.

It was narrated in a saheeh hadeeth in al-Muwatta’ and elsewhere that ‘Abd-

Allah ibn ‘Umar used to do ghusl on the day of al-Fitr before going out to the
prayer-place in the morning. Al-Muwatta’ 428.

2 – Eating before going out to pray on Eid al-Fitr and after the prayer
on Eid al-Adha

3 – Takbeer on the day of Eid

This is one of the greatest Sunnahs on the day of Eid because Allah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
 “(He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and
that you must magnify Allah [i.e. to say Takbeer (Allahu Akbar: Allah
is the Most Great)] for having guided you so that you may be grateful
to Him” [al-Baqarah 2:185]

4 – Offering congratulations

The etiquette of Eid also includes the congratulations and good wishes
exchanged by people, no matter what the wording, such as saying to one
another Taqabbala Allah minna wa minkum (May Allah accept (good deeds)
from us and from you” or “Eid Mubaarak” and other permissible expressions of
congratulations.

5 – Adorning oneself on the occasion of Eid.

It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)
said that ‘Umar took a brocade cloak that was for sale in the market and
brought it to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon
him), and said, “O Messenger of Allah, buy this and adorn yourself with it for
Eid and for receiving the delegations.” The Messenger of Allah (peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him) said to him, “Rather this is the dress of one
who has no share (of piety or of reward in the Hereafter)” Narrated by al-
Bukhaari, 948.

6 – Going to the prayer by one route and returning by another.

It was narrated that Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allah (may Allah be pleased with him)
said: On the day of Eid, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon
him) used to vary his route. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 986.

May Allah guide us in the straight path and help us celebrate Eid
without breaking any rules of Shari’ah.

Extract taken and edited from an article by “Shaykh Muhammad Sâlih al-Munajjid”.

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