Alhamdulillāh, we have been blessed with a religion which is full of guidelines for every breath we take and every move we make. Now how do we celebrate ‘Eid Al-Fitr correctly — according to the Sunnah? Here’s a summary with some links for more details.
Takbīr on the day of ‘Eid:
“Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, lā ilāha ill-Allāh, wa Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, wa lillāhil-hamd (Allāh is Most Great, Allāh is Most Great, there is no god but Allāh, Allāh is Most great, Allāh is most great, and to Allah be praise).”
Giving Zakāt al-fitr:
The Prophet (ﷺ) enjoined that it should be paid before the ‘Eid prayer. Read about it here.
Performing ghusl (ritual bath) before going out to the prayer:
It was narrated in an authentic hadīth that ‘Abd-Allāh ibn ‘Umar used to do ghusl on the day of al-Fitr before going out to the prayer-place in the morning. (Al-Muwatta’, 428.)
Eating before going out to pray on ‘Eid al-Fitr:
A-Bukhārī narrated from Anas ibn Mālik that the Messenger of Allāh (ﷺ) used not to go out on the morning of ‘Eid al-Fitr until he had eaten some dates, of which he would eat an odd number. (Al-Bukhārī, 953.)
Offering congratulations:
“Taqabbal Allāhu minnā wa minkum (May Allāh accept (good deeds) from us and from you”, “‘Eid mubārak ((have a) blessed ‘Eid)” and other permissible expressions of congratulations.
Adorning oneself:
Al-Bayhaqī narrated Ibn ‘Umar used to wear his best clothes on ‘Eid.
So a man should wear the best clothes that he has when going out for ‘Eid.
Going to the prayer by one route and returning by another:
Jābir ibn ‘Abd-Allāh (رضي الله عنه) said that on the day of ‘Eid, the Prophet (ﷺ) used to vary his route.”
(Al-Bukhārī, 986.)
Some Advice
Wakī’ ibn Al-Jarrāh said: “When we left for the ‘Eid prayer with Sufyān ath-Thawri, he said: “The first thing we will start off with on our day (‘Eid) is lowering our gaze””.
Men, you might want to take a break from social media for the next couple of days.
And ladies, please remember that the prohibition on tabarruj stands all year round. We can perform the Sunnah of adorning ourselves when we return from the ‘Eid prayer. And when we step out after that, let us please remember to conceal our beautiful clothes, henna, jewelry and makeup.
Let us also try our best to refrain from e-tabarruj (sharing photos online or in private with a non-mahram). I saw a tweet earlier today and I thought to share:
Resist the peer pressure to share your ‘slay’ with the public and do not be “like her who undoes the thread which she has spun, after it has become strong” [Q16:92] after spending the whole of Ramadān in the hijāb.
JazaakiLlaahu khayran.