What To Do For Eid-ul-Fitr (The Eid After The Ramadhan Fast)

THE SUNNAT BATH

It is Sunnat to perform a purificatory bath in preparation for Eid. The time for this begins starting from the middle of the night, right up to the day on 1st Syawal. The best time to perform this bath is after Dawn, and this is so even if one does not attend the Eid Prayer in the morning.

EATING AN ODD NUMBER OF DATES

It is Sunnat to eat an odd number of dates before the Eid Prayer on 1st Syawal.

TO WEAR PERFUME

Men are recommended to wear Attar (perfume).

TO PUT ON YOUR BEST DRESS

One should put on his / her best dress.

ALL MEN AND WOMEN SHOULD ATTEND

Except for women who will attract men's attention, all should attend the Eid Prayer. Women should be careful not to wear perfume or fine clothes. It is Makruh (offensive) for any attractive woman to attend the Eid Prayer in congregation.

COME EARLY AFTER THE SUBUH PRAYER ON FOOT

It is best that the Muslim walk to the Eid Prayer as soon as possible after the Subuh prayer. Here it should be stressed that it is best to walk.

PAYING THE ZAKAT OF EID-UL-FITR (ZAKAT FITRAH)

The zakat of Eid-ul-Fitr is obligatory for every free Muslim. Someone obligated to pay the Zakat Fitrah must also pay it for every person he is obliged to support, such as his wife and family e.g. his young son, grandson, father, or mother, if they are Muslims.

Zakat Fitrah becomes obligatory when the sun sets on the night before the 1st of Syawal i.e. on the evening of the last day of Ramadhan. It is permissible to give Zakat Fitrah at anytime during Ramadhan, though the best time is on the day of Eid itself before the Eid Prayer. It is Haraam to delay giving it until after the day of Eid. Hence, one should give it out before sunset on the 1st of Syawal, and it is a sin to delay until after this.

RETURNING HOME WITH A DIFFERENT ROUTE

The Muslim should make effort to return home after the Eid Prayer using a different route to the one used to come.

DELAY OF THE IMAM

It is Sunnat for the Imam to delay his arrival until the time of the Eid Prayer itself. It is also recommended for the Imam to call the people to Solah with the words - "the prayer is gathering".

THE EID PRAYER

The Eid Prayer is Sunnat Mu'akkad - which means that it is a confirmed and emphasised Sunnat, which has never been left by our dear Prophet Muhammad SAW.

The Eid Prayer is performed on the 1st of Syawal, and is recommended to be prayed in a group i.e. Jama'ah. It's time begins at sunrise, and it is recommended to take place after the sun is a spear's length above the horizon; and it is correct for this Solah to be performed from then until noon.

Not many people know that it is best to perform the Eid Prayer in the Masjid if there is space; though if there is not, then it is better to hold it outdoors.

The Eid Prayer consists of Two Rak'ah.

In addition to the opening Allahu Akbar, one says "Allahu Akbar" seven times in the first Rak'ah after the Du'a Iftitah and and five times in the second Rak'ah, EXCLUDING the Allahu Akbar for rising from Sujud.

One raises one's hands each time one says "Allahu Akbar."

Between each Allah Akbar, one quietly invokes Allah Most High by reciting:

"Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah, Laa Ilaaha Illallah, Allahu Akbar"("Glory be to Allah, Praise be to Allah, There is no God but Allah, Allah is Greatest") - placing the right hand upon the left each time one says this invocation.

Should one miss or add repetitions of "Allahu Akbar", this does not necessitate a forgetfulness prostration at the end of one's Solah. If one forgets them and already begins reciting the Al-Fatihah, one does not go back to complete the sets of seven or five Takbirs.

In the recitation, it is Sunnah for the Imam to recite Surah Qaf in the first Rak'ah and Surah Al-Qamar in the second Rak'ah; ORSurah Al-A'la in the first Rak'ah and Surah Al-Ghasiyah in the second Rak'ah; ORSurah Al-Kafirun in the first Rak'ah and Surah Al-Ikhlas in the second Rak'ah.

After the two Rak'ahs have been completed, the Imam then proceeds to give two Khutbahs - with integrals similar to that of Solat-ul-Jum'ah. It is Sunnah for the Imam to open the first sermon by saying "Allahu Akbar" nine times and to open the second sermon by saying "Allahu Akbar" seven times. It is permissible for the Imam to sit during the sermons.

THE TAKBIR OF EID FOR 1ST SYAWAL

This Takbir is also known as the 'Unrestricted Takbir', refers to those not confined to a particular circumstance but rather recited in Masjids, homes, and the street. It is Sunnat that this Takbir is recited from Maghrib on the night before the Eid until the Imam commences the Eid prayer with the opening Allahu Akbar.

RULINGS PERTAINING TO THE TAKBIR OF EID

The Ulama have agreed that the Takbir of Eid is Sunnah, and that there is no specific wording in saying this Takbir; but rather the matter is open and there are no restrictions in it, as many scholars have said. So due to this, we see that the scholars have differed in the form in which it is said and they have not accused one another of Bid'ah in this.

The Sahabah RA and our Pious Predecessors RH did not specify any particular characteristic of the Eid Takbir. Hence, the Imams and Fuqaha have stated that the features of the Takbir are open, so it is permissible for anyone to glorify Allah in any way. Nonetheless, some of the Ulama have chosen specific ways for themselves that they prefer over others by relying on some general texts that have come about as evidence of the Takbir of the Prophet Muhammad SAW. For example, the wordings chosen by Imam Shafi'i RH are the same wordings of the Prophet Muhammad SAW used during Fatah Makkah (Conquest of Makkah).

Imam Shafi'i RH said in his book, Al-Umm - the Takbir is how Rasulullah SAW used to make Takbir in the Solah i.e. 'Allahu Akbar'.

Then, the Imam begins to say:

'Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar' - until he has said this three times, and if he says more, it is good. And if he wants to add to it, he says - "Allahu Akbar Kabiran, Walhamdu Lillahi Kathiran, Wa Subhanallahi Bukrata(n)w Wa Asilan, Allahu Akbar, Wa La Na' Budu Illa Iyyah, Mukhlisina Lahud-deena Wa Law Karihal Kafiran, Laa Ilaaha Illaallahu Wahdah, Sadaqa Wa'dah, Wa Nasara 'Abdah, Wa Hazamal Ahzaba Wahdah, Laa Ilaaha Illallahu, Wallahu Akbar."

- this is excellent. Whatever Dhikr he wishes to add to this, I have loved it, though I love that he begin with three takbirs successively, and if he limits himself to only one, I have permitted it.

Anyone familiar to practices in the Hanafi community, will notice that many of them prefer two Takbirs. Which too - is permissible.