Etiquette of Eid-ul-Fitr in the light of Qur'an and authentic hadiths

Etiquette of Eid-ul-Fitr in the light of Qur'an and authentic hadiths

Etiquette of Eid-ul-Fitr in the light of Qur'an and authentic 

hadiths

We should know the etiquette of Eid-ul-Fitr in the light of the Qur'an and Hadith. Because it is our requirement to be Muslims that we mold our lives in the mold of Qur'an and Hadith.

Definition of Eid:

Eid is an Arabic word which means to return, because Eid returns after a year with a new joy and brings happiness to Muslims. For this reason it is called Eid.

Eid-ul-Fitr is a mercy of Allah:

 Hazrat Anas (PBUH) narrates that when the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) came to Madinah, the people of Madinah had appointed two days in which they used to play. He said: إِنَّ اللهَ قَدْ أَبْدَلَكُمْ بِهِمَا خَيْرًا مِنْهُمَا: يَوْمَ الْفِطْرِ، وَيَوْمَ النَّحْرِ

Allah has given you in return two days which are better than these (Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha).(Musnad-e-Ahmad and the chain of its transmission is correct. Hadith No.12006)

These two days (Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha) are better because they are ordained by Allah. And because these two days come after the payment of the two great pillars of Islam, they are the two pillars of Hajj and fasting. After fasting, Allah forgives the fasting people and those who perform Hajj after performing Hajj and embraces them in His mercy which is manifested in the form of Eid-ul-Fitr.

When Eid is the mercy of Allah, we have to adopt the same methods of celebrating this Eid and enjoying it as the religion tells us. So that while we enjoy the moment of Eid, we can save ourselves from sins and please Allah. The etiquette of Eid in the light of Qur'an and Sunnah is as follows:

(1) To take a bath before Eid Prayer:

We should dress well before going to Eid prayers and we should take a bath before we put on our clothes. It is narrated on the authority of Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (RA): كان يغتسل يوم الفطر قبل أن يغدو إلى المُصلى On the day of Eid-ul-Fitr, before going to the place of Eid-ul-Fitr, he used to take a bath. (Mu'ta Emam Malik, Hadith No. 609).

(2) Wearing good clothes for Eid:

Since Eid is a happy occasion, we should arrange good clothes to express our happiness, because our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also used to arrange good clothes on the occasion of Eid. Ja'far ibn Muhammad narrates from his father and he from his grandfather: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يَلْبَسُ بُرْدَ حِبَرَةَ فِي كُلِّ عِيدٍ The Prophet (PBUH) used to wear a striped cloak on every Eid. (Musnad al-Shaafa'i)

(3) Eat an odd number of dates before going to the place of Eid:

Hazrat Anas bin Malik (RA) narrates كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لاَ يَغْدُو يَوْمَ الفِطْرِ حَتَّى يَأْكُلَ تَمَرَاتٍ The Prophet (PBUH) used to eat dates on the day of Eid al-Fitr before going to the place of Eid.  And Anas (RA) narrates وَيَأْكُلُهُنَّ وِتْراً He(PBUH) used to eat an odd number of dates. (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 953)

(4) Walking towards the place of Eid:

Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (RA) narrates: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَخْرُجُ إِلَى الْعِيدِ مَاشِيًا، وَيَرْجِعُ مَاشِيًا The Messenger of Allaah (PBUH) used to walk to the place of Eid and return on foot. (Sunan Ibn Majah and the chain of its transmission is Hasan. Hadith No.1295)

(5) On the day of Eid, make arrangements to express the greatness of Allah:

 Eid is the mercy of Allah, the blessing of Allah and the occasion of happiness, so we should be thankful for this mercy and blessing of Allah. We can give that thanks by praising Allah. Allah said: وَلِتُكْملوا العِدَّةَ ولِتُكَبِّروا اللهَ على ما هداكم And complete the count (of the missed fasts) and glorify Allah for that which Allah has guided you. (Surat al-Baqara, verse no.185)

It has been proven about the Prophet (PBUH): When the Prophet (PBUH) went out for the Eid al-Fitr prayers, he would recite the takbeerat until he came to the place of the Eid, and until he offered the prayers. And when he offered the prayers, he would finish the takbirs. (Series of authentic hadiths for Albani, Hadith number: 171)

There are no specific words for takbirs from the Prophet (PBUH). However, some of the companions of the Prophet (PBUH) used to recite the words of takbeerat. Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood used to recite these takbirs: اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah and the chain of its transmission is correct. Hadith No. 5651)

Similarly, Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas used to recite these takbirs: اللهُ أَكْبَرُ,اللهُ أَكْبَرُ,اللهُ أَكْبَرُ,وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ,اللهُ أَكْبَرُ وَأَجَلُّ،اللهُ أَكْبَرُ عَلَى مَا هَدَانَا Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, all praise is due to Allah, Allah is the Greatest and the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest in that He has guided us. (Sunan al-Kubra and the chain of its transmission is correct. Hadith no. 6280)

(6) Eid greetings:

Eid is a happy occasion. However, greetings on the occasion of Eid is not proven by the Prophet (PBUH). Since it is permissible to express happiness and joy on the occasion of Eid, greetings can be given. And congratulating the companions of the Prophet on Eid is proof.

Muhammad ibn Ziyad says that I was with Abu umamh al-Bahli and some of the companions of the Prophet (PBUH). When they returned after the Eid prayer, they would greet each other with the following words: تَقَبَّلَ اللَّهُ مِنَّا وَمِنْك May Allah accepts it from us and may He accept it from you too. Imam Ahmad (RA) says that its chain of transmission is strong.(Al-Mughni for Ibn-e-Qudamah 1440)

(7) Returning on foot after Eid:

The Prophet (PBUH) used to go on foot for Eid prayers and used to come on foot. Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (RA) narrates کان رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَخْرُجُ إِلَى الْعِيدِ مَاشِيًا، وَيَرْجِعُ مَاشِيًا The Messenger of Allaah (PBUH) used to walk to the place of Eid and also used to come back on foot.)Sunan Ibn-e-Majah and the chain of its transmission is Hassan. Hadith No. 1295)

(8) Changing the way back from the place of Eid:

 Hazrat Jabir bin Abdullah narrates: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ عِيدٍ خَالَفَ الطَّرِيقَ On the day of Eid, the Prophet (PBUH) used to change his route. (Saheeh al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 986) That is, when they finished Eid, they did not go the way they used to come to the place of Eid, but used to choose another way to return.

Summary:

Eid-ul-Fitr is a day of happiness for Muslims. We should wear nice clothes on this day to express our happiness. Similarly, we should eat some dates before going for Eid prayers. We should go to the place of Eid on foot and come back on foot but we should come back by changing the route. 

We must obey the Messenger in every aspect of our lives because that is our success. Allah said: وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا Whoever obeys Allah and obeys His Prophet(PBUH), then he has attained great success. (Surat al-Ahzab, verse no. 71) We should ask Allah to help us to obey Allah and His Messenger in every aspect of our lives.So that where our worldly pleasures are doubled, we may be entitled to Allah's Paradise in the Hereafter. Ameen!
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