After the month of Ramadan has passed, it is time for the Muslims to celebrate Eid al Fitr at the command of their Lord. We hear different Muslim cultures celebrate this festival in different ways. But what was the way of the Prophet (peace be upon him)?
Let’s take a look.
Things to do on Eid al Fitr
Recite Takbeer
It is mustahab for a Muslim to recite takbeer during the night of Eid till the imam leads prayer.
Men should raise their voices reciting this dhikr while women should not raise their voice.
Eat dates
Eat an odd number of dates before leaving for the Eid prayer. It’s Sunnah.
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) never proceeded (for the prayer) on the Day of `Eid al Fitr unless he had eaten some dates. Anas also narrated: The Prophet (ﷺ) used to eat an odd number of dates.
(Sahih al-Bukhari 953)
Wear your best clothes
You should wear your best clothes on the day of Eid!
Ghusl in the morning
The salaf performed Ghusl before setting out for Eid prayers. Do you?
The Eid prayer
All Muslim scholars unanimously agree that the Eid prayer is prescribed in Islam. Some say it is Sunnah, some say that it is a communal obligation while others maintain that it is fard. No matter which category it falls under, the Eid day looks incomplete without the Eid prayer being a part of it. Agree?
Zakaat al-Fitr
The Prophet (peace be upon him) enjoined that it should be paid before the Eid prayer. It is okay to pay it one or two days before that, because of the hadith of Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him): “They used to give it one or two days before (Eid) al-Fitr.” If it is paid after the Eid prayer, it does not count as Sadaqat al-Fitr, because of the hadith of Ibn ‘Abbas: “Whoever pays it before the prayer, it is Zakaat al-Fitr, and whoever pays it after the prayer, it is ordinary charity.”
People should greet one another
There is nothing wrong with what men do on the day of Eid of embracing one another.
However, in greeting one another, Muslims must adhere to the principles of hijab. We often see men try to shake hands with non-mahram women and even denounce them if they refuse. This shouldn’t be the case with a Muslim who has just come out of the beauty of Ramadan.
Use different routes
The Prophet (peace be upon him) would go for Eid prayers from one route and return from the other. Hence, it is recommended for a Muslim to follow his Sunnah and to go by one route and return by another. This Sunnah is limited to the Eid prayer and does not apply to other prayers – Jumu’ah or others.
Also read: How to bid farewell to Ramadan