| ETIQUETTE OF CELEBRATING EIDS
Muslims should celebrate their Eids in the best way they can. Here are some etiquette with which Eids should be celebrated:
- It is recommended to take a bath on the morning of Eid. Imam Ibn Qudamah said: ‘It is recommended to perform Ghusl for Eid. Ibn Omar would perform Ghusl on the day of Eidul Fitr; and Ali is reported to have done so as well. This is opinion of the other great scholars.
- It is recommended to dress well for Eids for it is the Sunnah ofd the Messenger of Allah who used to dress well for Eid prayers. (Ibn Khuzaymah) Ibn Al Qayyum said: ‘The Messenger of Allah would wear his best clothes to go fo the Eid prayer. He had a cloak that he wore specifically on the two Eids and Friday. (Zadul Ma’ad)
- It is recommended to eat before going out for Eid prayer. Since Eidul Fitr is the day on which Muslims break their Ramadan fast, it is preferable to eat before going to the Eid prayer. Anas ibn Malik narrated that: ‘Allah’s Messenger, Muhammad (S) would not leave (his house) on the day of Fitr until he ate some dates.” (Bukhari and others).
- It is recommended to use different routes for going to and coming from Eid prayers. Jabir bin Abdullah reported that the Messenger of Allah (S) used two different routes for Eid, one for going to Salatil Eid and another for coming back from Salatil Eid. (Bukhari) Ibn Qayyim said: ‘He (Muhammad sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) would take different routes on the day of the Eid, going one Way and returning another one. It has been said that the wisdom this is: to greet the people of both routes; so that the people of both routes will receive blessings from him (through his supplication and salam); to fulfill the needs of the needy people on both routes; to display (by the Takbir).’ (Zadul Ma’ad)
- It is recommended for ladies to participate in the Eid prayer. (Bukhari, Muslim)
- Takbir (saying Allahu Akbar) is a clearly distinctive feature of Muslims’ Eid celebrations. One of the recommended Takbirs is as follows: Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar, La Ilaha Illallahu Wallahu Akbar Allahu Akbar Wa lillahil Hamd. The Takbir for the Eid starts from the time that one leaves the house heading towards the Musalla. It is confirmed that the Messenger of Allah (S) ‘….Would leave (his house), on the day of Fitr, saying Takbir until he reached the Musalla, and until he performed the prayer. Once he had performed the prayer, he would stop saying the Takbir.’ (Recorded by Ibn Abi Shayban)
- The Eid prayer should be the first thing to start the day of Eid with as it was done by the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (S).
- It is very important for the Muslims to congratulate one another for the Eid by saying: Taqabbalallahu minna wa minkum – my Allah accept from us and you, Eid Mubarak or any other good expression that is allowed in Shari’ah. Jubay ibn Nufair reported that when the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (S) and the companions met on the Eid day, they used to say: May Allah accept our good deeds. (Ibn Hajar says that the hadith is sound) It is recommended to say salams and hug a person next to you once when the Khutbah is over so that the love of Islamic brotherhood can flourish.
|