The Sunnahs of Eid al-Adha
Eid al-Adha is an extremely important occasion for Muslims - it marks one of the last celebrations of the year. It takes place on the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah, the final month in the Islamic calendar. Allah ﷻ informs us in the Quran of certain months holding more superiority due to their sacredness over other months:
إِنَّ عِدَّةَ ٱلشُّهُورِ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًۭا فِى كِتَـٰبِ ٱللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ مِنْهَآ أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌۭ
God decrees that there are twelve months- ordained in God’s Book on the Day when He created the heavens and earth- four months of which are sacred. (Quran, 9:36)
WHEN ARE THE SACRED MONTHS?
The scholars of exegesis have a consensus that these four months are the following:
Dhu al-Qa’dah
Dhu al-Hijjah
al-Muharram
Rajab
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE MONTHS TO BE SACRED?
The meaning of sacredness here is understood in the following way: “Disobedience in them (months) leads to increased punishment and obedience leads to increased reward.” These months were honoured before Islam by the Arabs, to the extent that if they were to meet the killer of their father in these months they would not engage in harming him.
THE IMPORTANCE OF FOLLOWING THE SUNNAH
Implementing the sunnahs of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the sacred days of Dhu al-Hijjah is extremely rewarding and following in the footsteps of the best of creation ﷺ which in turn earns us the love and forgiveness of Allah ﷻ.
قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ ٱللَّهَ فَٱتَّبِعُونِى يُحْبِبْكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ
Say, (O Prophet), “If you love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you and forgive your sins. For Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Quran, 3:31)
Our example, the best of creation and most perfected human ﷺ also encouraged his nation to observe his traditions and way of life and warned us of abandoning his way in the following narrations:
عَلَيْكُمْ بِسُنَّتِي
…(It is incumbent) upon you (Muslims) to follow my way (Sunnah)...
(Ibn Maja, 42)
مَنْ لَمْ يَعْمَلْ بِسُنَّتِي فَلَيْسَ مِنِّي
…Whoever does not implement my way, is not from me…
(Ibn Maja, 1846)
WORSHIPPING IN THE NIGHT
It is desirable to enliven the night of Eid, due to the Hadith:
‘Whoever enlivens the night of Eid, Allah will enliven his heart on the day hearts die’. (Ibn Majah, 1782)
SEEKING FORGIVENESS AND MAKING DUA
It is also recommended to seek forgiveness on the night of Eid and to make dua to Allah. The night of Eid has also been recorded as a night wherein Allah accepts duas:
Ibn Asakir reports on the authority of Abu Umamah, The Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Five nights wherein prayer is not rejected: The first night of Rajab, the fifteenth night of Sha’ban, the night of Friday, the night of Fitr and the night of Nahr’. (Ahsan al-Wi’a li Adab ad-Dua)
ARISING EARLY
One should start the day early in preparations for Eid, and observe the prayer of Eid as early as possible, especially for Eid al-Adha as the sacrifice (Qurbani) is to be offered after the prayer and distributed.
BATHE
It is Sunnah to perform the ghusl after Fajr and before the Eid prayer.
It is narrated from Ibn Abbas (Allah is pleased with him and his father) that the Prophet ﷺ would bathe on the day of Fitr and Adha. (Ibn Maja, 1315)
MISWAK
Use the miswak and brush your teeth, this should be done throughout the day and for the Eid prayer, as well as the obligatory prayers. This is an extremely emphasised sunnah and the Prophet ﷺ would constantly use the miswak:
The Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Miswak is a purification for the mouth and it is pleasing for the Lord (Allah)’. (Ahmad, 62)
PERFUME
Apply perfume, for the Prophet ﷺ would apply perfume on Eid and he encouraged using perfume for the minor Eid; Friday.
In a narration on the virtue of the minor Eid, He ﷺ said: ‘If you have perfume, then apply it’ (Ibn Maja, 1098)
WEAR YOUR BEST CLOTHES
Wear the most beautiful and newest clothes or washed clothes. The Prophet ﷺ would wear a red-striped Yemeni shawl every Eid.
HAPPINESS
Show happiness and be joyful as this is a sign of gratitude for the blessings of Allah, and Allah increases us in goodness if we are grateful to him. He says in the Quran:
لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ
If you are grateful, I will increase you
(Quran, 14:7)
PRAY FAJR AT YOUR LOCAL MASJID
It is sunnah to perform the morning prayer in congregation at your local masjid as prayer there is more virtuous than the prayer in the Jami’ masjid of your area.
WALK TO THE MUSALLA
The Prophet ﷺ would walk to the place of Eid prayer.
It is narrated by Ali b. Abi Talib (Allah is pleased with him), he said, ‘From it’s (Eid’s) sunnahs is to come out walking to Eid (prayer)’ (Tirmidhi, 530)
PROCLAIM THE TAKBIRAT
This can be done silently or with a slightly raised voice or audibly. Some of our Imam’s have preferred silently. Once you have reached the place of prayer you should stop the takbirat.
WEAR A RING
Wearing a ring is proven sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and it is also an action which the companions would observe especially for Eid.
It is reported that the companions who would not wear a ring throughout the year would specifically wear one on the day of Eid.
GREET ONE ANOTHER WITH DUA
The companions would greet one another with the following statement, and this is desirable to do also:
تَقَبَّلَ اللهُ مِنَّا وَ مِنْكُمْ
Allah accept from us, and you!
It is also acceptable to use a greeting like ‘Eid Mubarak’ after the Eid prayer or upon meeting friends and family.
RETURN FROM THE PRAYER VIA A DIFFERENT ROUTE
It is narrated by Jabir b. Abdullah, who said: ‘On the day of Eid, the Prophet ﷺ would return via a different route’. (Bukhari, 986)
One of the wisdom for this is to meet more Muslims whilst returning from the prayer.
These Sunnahs of Eid are encouraged for every Muslim, may Allah allow us all to act upon them and earn His pleasure.
References
Mafatih al-Gayb, Razi
Maraqi al-Falah, Shurunbulali
Hashiyah Tahtawi, Tahtawi
Ahsan al-Wa’a li Adab ad-Dua, Raza
Written by Ustadh Umer Asif
