1-   Thank Allah The Almighty for completing the blessing of fasting the month of Ramadan upon you, and supplicate Him to accept your fasting and night prayer. It was narrated on the authority of ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib that he used to say on the last night of Ramadan, “I wish we could know the winners to congratulate them and the losers to console them.”

Likewise, Ibn Mas‘ood used to say, “Who are the accepted people [so as] to congratulate them? Who are the deprived people to console ‎them? O you who have been accepted, congratulations … O you who have been rejected, may Allah compensate you for your loss.‎”

2-   Showing happiness on the occasion of ‘Eed: ‘Aa’ishah said,  

“The Messenger of Allah entered upon me while two girls were singing beside me). The Prophet lay down and turned his face to the other side. Then Abu Bakr came and spoke to me harshly saying, ‘Musical instruments of the devil in the house of the Prophet ?’ The Messenger of Allah turned his face towards him and said: ‘Leave them.’ When Abu Bakr became inattentive, I signaled to those girls to go out and they left.”[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

According to a narration by Muslim, “They were singing using the tambourine...”

Based on this Hadeeth (narration), scholars said that it is permissible for one to allow his wife and children to engage in lawful entertainment on the Days of ‘Eed through the methods that amuse them and give them rest from the stress of worship; nevertheless, avoiding this is better. This Hadeeth also proves that expressing happiness and joy on the occasion of the ‘Eeds is one of the rites of Islam.

3-   Takbeer: Making Takbeer from the time sunset on the night of ‘Eed until the ‘Eed Prayer. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.}[Quran 2:185]

It is recommended for men to make Takbeer loudly in the markets, houses, roads, mosques and gatherings to manifest this rite and revive it, and to emulate our righteous predecessors. The Takbeer wording is, “Allahuakbar Allahuakbar, Laa Ilaaha Illa Allah. Allahuakbar Walillaah Al-Hamd. (Allah is The Most Great, Allah is The Most Great, there is no true god except Allah, Allah is The Most Great, Allah is The Most Great ‎and all praise is due to Him.)”

Young children should be accustomed to this after teaching them the rationale behind it.

4-   Zakat Al-Fitr: After the completion of the fast of the month of Ramadan, Allah The Almighty legislated Zakat Al-Fitr as a purification for the fasting person from idle and obscene speech that might affect his fast, and to feed the poor. It is a Saa‘ (measure of weight) of the food from the common foods in your country like rice, wheat, and dates for every Muslim person, as Ibn ‘Umar said, “The Messenger of Allah enjoined Zakat Al-Fitr, a Saa’ of dates, or a Saa’ of barley, on every Muslim, slave or free, male or female, young or old.”[Muslim]

It is also an act of the Sunnah to pay for the fetus, as ‘Uthmaan ibn ‘Affaan did so. Zakat Al-Fitr must be paid before the ‘Eed Prayer, and it is impermissible to be paid as money according to the soundest opinion of scholars. They argued that this violates the command of the Prophet, . The Muslim should search for the poor and the needy to pay Zakat Al-Fitr to them.

The best time to pay Zakat Al-Fitr is on the ‘Eed Day, before the prayer. It is also permissible to be paid one or two days before the ‘Eed Day.

5-   Ghusl (ritual bath) and adornment: It is recommended for men to perform Ghusl, apply perfume and wear their best clothes, as Ibn ‘Umar said, “‘Umar took a brocade cloak that was for sale in the market and brought it to the Messenger of Allah and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, buy this and adorn yourself with it for ‘Eed and for receiving delegations…’”[Al-Bukhari]

Ibn ‘Umar also used to wear his best clothes on ‘Eed.

6-   Eating before the ‘Eed Prayer: It is recommended for one to eat an odd number of dates (three or five) before going to the prayer of ‘Eed Al-Fitr, as Anas narrated that the Prophet, , “Did not use to go out on the morning of ‘Eed Al-Fitr until he had eaten some dates… of which he would eat an odd number.”[Al-Bukhari]

7-   Going out to the ‘Eed Prayer early: Going out to the ‘Eed Prayer early is recommended, as Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {so race to [all that is] good.}[Quran 5:48]

Undoubtedly, ‘Eed is one of the best things, and Al-Bukhari entitled a chapter in his Saheeh as “Going Early to the ‘Eed Prayer.” Under this title, he mentioned a Hadeeth narrated on the authority of Al-Baraa’ ibn ‘Aazib . He said, “The Prophet delivered a Khutbah (sermon) on the Day of An-Nahr saying, ‘the first thing we will do this day is the prayer….’”

Al-Haafith Ibn Hajar said, “This proves that one should not be engaged in anything on the Day of ’Eed other than preparing for the prayer and going to it. This entails refraining from doing anything else, which means that one should go to the prayer early.”

Scholars such as Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and others were of the opinion that the ‘Eed Prayer is obligatory and cannot be left without a valid excuse. Muslim women, including those who are menstruating, should attend the ‘Eed Prayer; However, the menstruating women should keep away from the place of prayer. Umm ‘Atiyyah said: “The Messenger of Allah commanded us to bring them (women) out on (‘Eed) Al-Fitr and (‘Eed) Al-Adh-ha, and to bring out adolescent girls, menstruating women and virgins, but the menstruating women were to stay away from the prayer, and were to witness goodness and the supplication of the Muslims.” ‎[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

8-   Going to the place of prayer on foot: ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib said, “It is an act of Sunnah (Prophetic tradition) for one to go to the ‘Eed Prayer on foot.”[At-Tirmithi: Hasan]

The majority of scholars rely on this Hadeeth and consider going to the ‘Eed Prayer on foot recommended.

Ibn Al-Munthir said, “Going to the ‘Eed Prayer on foot is more humble, but whoever goes to it riding is not blamed.”

9-   Congratulations on the ‘Eed Day: There is no harm in congratulating each other on the Day of ‘Eed by saying 'Taqabbalal-Laahu minna wa minkum (may Allah accept from us and you).’ Jubayr ibn Nufayr narrated that some of the honorable Companions of the Prophet, , used to congratulate each other when meeting on ‘Eed saying, “‎'Taqabbalal-Laahu minna wa minkum (may Allah accept from us ‎and you)‎”

(To be continued)