‘Eid is near, here’s what to do
Alḥamdulillāh what a beautiful and amazing religion we have. Our celebrations revolve around our obedience of Allāh ﷻ. We celebrate our worship and completion of acts of devotion. ‘Eid ul-Fitr is a celebration of our patience and resilience— of the completion of struggling and pushing through an entire month of fasting, devotion, and increased worship. ‘Eid ul-Fitr is a very joyous day; it is a true Thanksgiving Day for the believers. When the Prophet ﷺ migrated from Makkah to Madinah, the people of Madinah used to have two festivals. On those two days they had carnivals and festivity. Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ asked the Ansār (the Muslims of Madinah) about it. They replied that before Islam they used to have carnivals on those two joyous days. The Prophet ﷺ told them: “Instead of those two days, Allāh has appointed two other days which are better, the days of ‘Eid ul-Fitr and ‘Eid al-Adha.”
Celebrations are important because they help meet an internal need for emotional and social nourishment. Celebrating on ‘Eid is also beneficial for our mental health! It helps cultivate mental wellness by focusing on positive gains— particularly in a time when many feel overwhelmed and practicing gratitude (which is proven to have a plethora of benefits for our mental health) Celebrating Eid is an expression of gratitude to Allāh ﷻ. We express our gratitude to Allāh ﷻ for allowing us to live, experience and complete Ramadān.
Here are some things to do on ‘Eid day:
SPEND THE NIGHT IN PRAYER
Alḥamdulillāh we just spent 30 beautiful nights praying tarawīh, don’t stop now. After isha’ pray a few extra nafl prayers and wake up before fajr and pray a few more! Our beloved Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ was reported to have said “Whoever spends the nights of the two ‘Eid in praying voluntary prayers, seeking reward from Allāh, his heart will not die on the Day when hearts will die.” [Sunan Ibn Majah]
DO GHUSL
Take a sunnah shower and get clean before Ṣalāh!
WEAR CLEAN, MODEST CLOTHES
Imam an-Nasafi says in Kanz ad-Daqa’iq: The Sunnah is to wear one’s best clothes on ‘Eid.
EAT BEFORE GOING TO THE MASJID
For ‘Eid ul-Fitr, it is Sunnah to eat some dates before the prayer so as not to extend the fast. Our beloved Prophet ﷺ did not set out on the day of ‘Eid until he had eaten an odd number of dates.
GIVE YOUR ZAKĀT AL-FITR
This is a a charity given to the poor at the end of the blessed month of Ramadān.
Ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ, obligated Zakat al-Fitr as purification of the fasting person from vain talk and misbehavior, as food for the poor. Whoever pays it before the Eid prayer, it is accepted as Zakat. Whoever pays it after the Eid prayer, it is part of voluntary charity. [Sunan Abī Dāwūd 1609]
RECITE TAKBIR
It is mustahabb to recite takbīr during the night of ‘Eid from sunset on the last day of Ramaḍān until the imam comes to lead the prayer.
On the way to the masjid, Takbīr ul-‘Eid should be recited softly. The 'Eid Takbīr is:
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لَا إلَهَ إلَّا اللَّهُ وَاَللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْد
‘Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar. La Ilaaha Illallahu Wallahu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar wa Lillahil Hamd’
Allāh is great, Allāh is great, there is no god but Allāh, Allāh is great, Allāh is great, and praise be to Allāh
GO TO ‘EID PRAYERS
‘Eid is for everyone and everyone should attend ‘Eid Ṣalāh! Umm ‘Atiyyah reported: We were ordered to come out on the day of Eid, even the young girls and menstruating women from their houses. We would stand behind the men and declare the greatness of Allah along with them, and supplicate to Allah along with them, hoping for the blessings of that day and its purification from sin. [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 971]
LISTEN TO THE KHUTBAH
Don't talk during the Khutbah! Just listen to the message of the imam and earn good deeds.
SMILE AT OTHERS
Our beloved Prophet ﷺ said “Smiling in the face of your brother is an act of charity” [Tirmidhī]
GREET PEOPLE
The sunnah greeting that you should be saying on 'Eid: “Taqabbala Allāh minna wa minkum” (May Allāh ﷻ accept from us the good deeds and also from you). The easiest response to this is to say 'amin'.
GO HOME A DIFFERENT ROUTE
‘On the Day of ‘Eid, the Prophet ﷺ used to return after offering the ‘Eid prayer through a way different from that by which he went’, so that on The Day of Judgement the two paths would testify that you attended this Ṣalāh. [Bukhārī]
‘Eid Mubarak dear friends! May Allāh ﷻ accept all of our du’ā, ibādah, look over all our shortcomings, and grant us all paradise with our beloved Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ, āmīn 🤲🏼 Hope you all have a blessed day inshā’Allāh.
With love and duʿā,
your sister Dunia ♡