The Book of Two Festivals (Eids)

The two Eid and sprucing oneself up on them

Hadith # 948

Narrated `Abdullah bin `Umar:

`Umar bought a silk cloak from the market, took it to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Take it and adorn yourself with it during the `Id and when the delegations visit you."

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) (pbuh) replied, "This dress is for those who have no share (in the Hereafter)."

After a long period Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) sent to `Umar a cloak of silk brocade. `Umar came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)  with the cloak and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! You said that this dress was for those who had no share (in the Hereafter); yet you have sent me this cloak." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to him, "Sell it and fulfill your needs by it."

A display of spears and shields on 'Eid Festival day

Hadith # 949, 950

Narrated Aisha:

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came to my house while two girls were singing beside me the songs of Buath (a story about the war between the two tribes of the Ansar, the Khazraj and the Aus, before Islam). The Prophet (pbuh) lay down and turned his face to the other side.

Then Abu Bakr came and spoke to me harshly saying, "Musical instruments of Satan near the Prophet (pbuh) ?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) (pbuh) turned his face towards him and said, "Leave them."

When Abu Bakr became inattentive, I signaled to those girls to go out and they left. It was the day of `Id, and the Black people were playing with shields and spears; so either I requested the Prophet (pbuh) or he asked me whether I would like to see the display. I replied in the affirmative.

Then the Prophet (pbuh) made me stand behind him and my cheek was touching his cheek and he was saying, "Carry on! O Bani Arfida," till I got tired.

The Prophet (pbuh) asked me, "Are you satisfied (Is that sufficient for you)?" I replied in the affirmative and he told me to leave.

The legal way of the celebrations on the two 'Eid festivals

Hadith # 951

Narrated Al-Bara':

I heard the Prophet (pbuh) delivering a Khutba saying,

"The first thing to be done on this day (first day of `Id ul Adha) is to pray; and after returning from the prayer we slaughter our sacrifices (in the name of Allah) and whoever does so, he acted according to our Sunna (traditions)."

Hadith # 952

Narrated Aisha:

Abu Bakr came to my house while two small Ansari girls were singing beside me the stories of the Ansar concerning the Day of Buath. And they were not singers.

Abu Bakr said protesting, "Musical instruments of Satan in the house of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) !"

It happened on the `Id day and Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "O Abu Bakr! There is an `Id for every nation and this is our `Id."

Eating on the day of Fitr before the 'Eid-al-Fitr

Hadith # 953

Narrated Anas bin Malik:

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) never proceeded (for the prayer) on the Day of `Id-ul-Fitr unless he had eaten some dates.

Anas also narrated: The Prophet (ﷺ) used to eat odd number of dates.

Eating on the day of Nahr (10th of Dhul-Hijjah)

Hadith # 954

Narrated Anas:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Whoever slaughtered (his sacrifice) before the `Id prayer, should slaughter again."

A man stood up and said, "This is the day on which one has desire for meat," and he mentioned something about his neighbors. It seemed that the Prophet (ﷺ) believed him. Then the same man added, "I have a young she-goat which is dearer to me than the meat of two sheep."

The Prophet (ﷺ) permitted him to slaughter it as a sacrifice. I do not know whether that permission was valid only for him or for others as well.

Hadith # 955

Narrated Al-Bara' bin `Azib:

The Prophet (ﷺ) delivered the Khutba after offering the prayer on the Day of Nahr and said,

"Whoever offers the prayer like us and slaughters like us then hisNusuk (sacrifice) will be accepted by Allah. And whoever slaughters his sacrifice before the `Id prayer then he has not done the sacrifice."

Abi Burda bin Niyar, the uncle of Al-Bara' said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! I have slaughtered my sheep before the `Id prayer and I thought today as a day of eating and drinking (not alcoholic drinks), and I liked that my sheep should be the first to be slaughtered in my house. So slaughtered my sheep and took my food before coming for the prayer."

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The sheep which you have slaughtered is just mutton (not a Nusuk)."

He (Abu Burda) said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! I have a young she-goat which is dearer to me than two sheep. Will that be sufficient as a Nusuk on my behalf? "

The Prophet (pbuh) said, "Yes, it will be sufficient for you but it will not be sufficient (as a Nusuk) for anyone else after you."

To proceed to a masjid without a pulpit

Hadith # 956

Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri:

The Prophet (ﷺ) used to proceed to the Musalla on the days of Id-ul-Fitr and Id-ul-Adha; the first thing to begin with was the prayer and after that he would stand in front of the people and the people would keep sitting in their rows. Then he would preach to them, advise them and give them orders, (i.e. Khutba). And after that if he wished to send an army for an expedition, he would do so; or if he wanted to give and order, he would do so, and then depart.

The people followed this tradition till I went out with Marwan, the Governor of Medina, for the prayer of Id-ul-Adha or Id-ul-Fitr. When we reached the Musalla, there was a pulpit made by Kathir bin As-Salt. Marwan wanted to get up on that pulpit before the prayer. I got hold of his clothes but he pulled them and ascended the pulpit and delivered the Khutba before the prayer.

I said to him, "By Allah, you have changed (the Prophet's tradition)." He replied, "O Abu Sa`id! Gone is that which you know." I said, "By Allah! What I know is better than what I do not know."

Marwan said, "People do not sit to listen to our Khutba after the prayer, so I delivered the Khutba before the prayer."

Eid prayer before the Khutba and no Adhan or Iqama for it

Hadith # 957

Narrated `Abdullah bin `Umar:

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to offer the prayer of `Id-ul-Adha and `Id-ul-Fitr and then deliver the Khutba after the prayer.

Hadith # 958, 959, 960, 961

Narrated Ibn Juraij:

`Ata' said, "Jabir bin `Abdullah said, 'The Prophet (ﷺ) went out on the Day of `Id-ul-Fitr and offered the prayer before delivering the Khutba,

Ata told me that during the early days of Ibn Az-Zubair, Ibn `Abbas had sent a message to him telling him that the Adhan for the `Id Prayer was never pronounced (in the life time of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)) and the Khutba used to be delivered after the prayer.

Ata told me that Ibn `Abbas and Jabir bin `Abdullah, had said, "There was no Adhan for the prayer of `Id-ul-Fitr and `Id-ul-Aqha." `

Ata' said, "I heard Jabir bin `Abdullah saying, 'The Prophet (ﷺ) stood up and started with the prayer, and after it he delivered the Khutba. When the Prophet (ﷺ) of Allah (pbuh) finished (the Khutba), he went to the women and preached to them, while he was leaning on Bilal's hand. Bilal was spreading his garment and the ladies were putting alms in it.' "

I said to Ata, "Do you think it incumbent upon an Imam to go to the women and preach to them after finishing the prayer and Khutba?" `

Ata' said, "No doubt it is incumbent on Imams to do so, and why should they not do so?"

The Khutba after the Eid prayer

Hadith # 962

Narrated Ibn `Abbas:

I offered the `Id prayer with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), Abu Bakr, `Umar and `Uthman and all of them offered the prayer before delivering the Khutba.

Hadith # 963

Narrated Ibn `Umar:

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), Abu Bakr and `Umar! used to offer the two `Id prayers before delivering the Khutba.

Hadith # 964

Narrated Ibn `Abbas:

The Prophet (ﷺ) offered a two rak`at prayer on the Day of Id ul Fitr and he did not pray before or after it. Then he went towards women along with Bilal and ordered them to pay alms and so they started giving their earrings and necklaces (in charity).

Hadith # 965

Narrated Al-Bara' bin `Azib:

The Prophet (pbuh) said, "The first thing that we should do on this day of ours is to pray and then return to slaughter the sacrifice. So anyone who does so, he acted according to our Sunna (tradition), and whoever slaughtered the sacrifice before the prayer, it was just meat which he presented to his family and would not be considered as Nusuk."

A person from the Ansar named Abu Burda bin Niyyar said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! I slaughtered the Nusuk (before the prayer) but I have a young shegoat which is better than an older sheep." The Prophet (ﷺ) I said, "Sacrifice it in lieu of the first, but it will be not sufficient (as a sacrifice) for anybody else after you."

It is disliked to carry arms on 'Eid and in the Haram

Hadith # 966

Narrated Sa`id bin Jubair:

I was with Ibn `Umar when a spear head pierced the sole of his foot and his foot stuck to the paddle of the saddle and I got down and pulled his foot out, and that happened in Mina. Al-Hajjaj got the news and came to inquire about his health and said, "Alas! If we could only know the man who wounded you!"

Ibn `Umar said, "You are the one who wounded me." Al-Hajjaj said, "How is that?" Ibn `Umar said, "You have allowed the arms to be carried on a day on which nobody used to carry them and you allowed arms to be carried in the Haram even though it was not allowed before."

Hadith # 967

Narrated Sa`id bin `Amr bin Sa`id bin Al-`Aas:

Al-Hajjaj went to Ibn `Umar while I was present there. Al-Hajjaj asked Ibn `Umar, "How are you?" Ibn `Umar replied, "I am all right," Al-Hajjaj asked, "Who wounded you?"

Ibn `Umar replied, "The person who allowed arms to be carried on the day on which it was forbidden to carry them (he meant Al-Hajjaj)."

To offer the Eid prayer early

Hadith # 968

Narrated Al-Bara':

The Prophet (ﷺ) delivered the Khutba on the day of Nahr (`Id-ul-Adha) and said, "The first thing we should do on this day of ours is to pray and then return and slaughter (our sacrifices). So anyone who does so he acted according to our Sunna; and whoever slaughtered before the prayer then it was just meat that he offered to his family and would not be considered as a sacrifice in any way.

My uncle Abu Burda bin Niyyar got up and said, "O, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! I slaughtered the sacrifice before the prayer but I have a young she-goat which is better than an older sheep." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Slaughter it in lieu of the first and such a goat will not be considered as a sacrifice for anybody else after you."

Superiority of deeds on the days of Tashriq

Hadith # 969

Narrated Ibn `Abbas:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhul Hijja)."

Then some companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Not even Jihad?"

He replied, "Not even Jihad, except that of a man who does it by putting himself and his property in danger (for Allah's sake) and does not return with any of those things."

To say Takbir on the days of Mina and while proceeding to Arafat

Hadith # 970

Narrated Muhammad bin Abi Bakr Al-Thaqafi:

While we were going from Mina to `Arafat, I asked Anas bin Malik, about Talbiya, "How did you use to say Talbiya in the company of the Prophet?"

Anas said: "People used to say Talbiya and their saying was not objected to and they used to say Takbir and that was not objected to either. "

Hadith # 971

Narrated Um `Atiya:

We used to be ordered to come out on the Day of `Id and even bring out the virgin girls from their houses and menstruating women so that they might stand behind the men and say Takbir along with them and invoke Allah along with them and hope for the blessings of that day and for purification from sins.

As-Salat using a small spear as a Sutra

Hadith # 972

Narrated Ibn `Umar:

On the day of `Id-ul-Fitr and `Id-ul-Adha a spear used to be planted in front of the Prophet (as a Sutra for the prayer) and then he would pray.

To put the 'Anaza or Harba in front of the Imam on Eid day

Hadith # 973

Narrated Ibn `Umar:

The Prophet (ﷺ) used to proceed to the Musalla and an 'Anaza used to be carried before him and planted in the Musalla in front of him and he would pray facing it (as a Sutra).

The coming out of the ladies and menstruating women to the Masjid

Hadith # 974

Narrated Muhammad:

Um 'Atiyya said: "Our Prophet ordered us to come out (on `Id day) with the mature girls and the virgins staying in seclusion."

Hafsa narrated the above mentioned Hadith and added, "The mature girls or virgins staying in seclusion but the menstruating women had to keep away from the Musalla."

The attendance of boys at Musalla

Hadith # 975

Narrated Ibn `Abbas:

I (in my boyhood) went out with the Prophet (ﷺ) on the day of `Id ul Fitr or Id-ul-Adha. The Prophet (ﷺ) prayed and then delivered the Khutba and then went towards the women, preached and advised them and ordered them to give alms.

The Imam faces the people while delivering the Khutba of Eid

Hadith # 976

Narrated Al-Bara':

The Prophet (ﷺ) went towards Al-Baqi (the graveyard at Medina) on the day of Id-ul-Adha and offered a two-rak`at prayer (of `Id-ul-Adha) and then faced us and said, "On this day of ours, our first act of worship is the offering of prayer and then we will return and slaughter the sacrifice, and whoever does this concords with our Sunna; and whoever slaughtered his sacrifice before that (i.e. before the prayer) then that was a thing which he prepared earlier for his family and it would not be considered as a Nusuk (sacrifice.)"

A man stood up and said, "O, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! I slaughtered (the animal before the prayer) but I have a young she-goat which is better than an older sheep." The Prophet (pbuh) said to him, "Slaughter it. But a similar sacrifice will not be sufficient for anybody else after you."

Marking in Eidgah

Hadith # 977

Narrated `Abdur Rahman bin `Abis:

Ibn `Abbas was asked whether he had joined the Prophet (ﷺ) in the `Id prayer. He said, "Yes. And I could not have joined him had I not been young. (The Prophet (ﷺ) came out) till he reached the mark which was near the house of Kathir bin As-Salt, offered the prayer, delivered the Khutba and then went towards the women.

Bilal was accompanying him. He preached to them and advised them and ordered them to give alms. I saw the women putting their ornaments with their outstretched hands into Bilal's garment. Then the Prophet (ﷺ) along with Bilal returned home.

The preaching to the woman by the Imam on Eid day

Hadith # 978

Narrated Ibn Juraij:

`Ata' told me that he had heard Jabir bin `Abdullah saying,

"The Prophet (ﷺ) stood up to offer the prayer of the `Id ul Fitr. He first offered the prayer and then delivered the Khutba. After finishing it he got down (from the pulpit) and went towards the women and advised them while he was leaning on Bilal's hand. Bilal was spreading out his garment where the women were putting their alms."

I asked `Ata' whether it was the Zakat of `Id ul Fitr.

He said, "No, it was just alms given at that time. Some lady put her finger ring and the others would do the same."

I said, (to `Ata'), "Do you think that it is incumbent upon the Imam to give advice to the women (on `Id day)?"

He said, "No doubt, it is incumbent upon the Imams to do so and why should they not do so?"

Hadith # 979

Al-Hasan bin Muslim told me that

Ibn `Abbas had said, "I joined the Prophet, Abu Bakr, `Umar and `Uthman in the `Id ul Fitr prayers. They used to offer the prayer before the Khutba and then they used to deliver the Khutba afterwards. Once the Prophet (ﷺ) I came out (for the `Id prayer) as if I were just observing him waving to the people to sit down. He, then accompanied by Bilal, came crossing the rows till he reached the women. He recited the following verse:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ إِذَا جَآءَكَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَـٰتُ يُبَايِعۡنَكَ عَلَىٰٓ أَن ... إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ۬ رَّحِيمٌ۬

O Prophet! when believing women come to thee to take the oath of fealty to thee, that

- they will not associate in worship any other thing whatever with Allah,

- that they will not steal,

- that they will not commit adultery (or fornication),

- that they will not kill their children,

- that they will not utter slander, intentionally forging falsehood,

- and that they will not disobey thee in any just matter --

then do thou receive their fealty, and pray to Allah for the forgiveness (of their sins):

for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (60:12)

;After finishing the recitation he said, "O ladies! Are you fulfilling your covenant?" None except one woman said, "Yes." Hasan did not know who was that woman.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Then give alms." Bilal spread his garment and said, "Keep on giving alms. Let my father and mother sacrifice their lives for you (ladies)." So the ladies kept on putting their Fatkhs (big rings) and other kinds of rings in Bilal's garment." `

Abdur-Razaq said, " 'Fatkhs' is a big ring which used to be worn in the (Pre-Islamic) period of ignorance

If a woman has no veil to use for Eid

Hadith # 980

Narrated Aiyub:

Hafsa bint Seereen said, "On Id we used to forbid our girls to go out for `Id prayer. A lady came and stayed at the palace of Bani Khalaf and I went to her. She said, 'The husband of my sister took part in twelve holy battles along with the Prophet (ﷺ) and my sister was with her husband in six of them.

My sister said that they used to nurse the sick and treat the wounded. Once she asked, 'O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! If a woman has no veil, is there any harm if she does not come out (on `Id day)?' The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'Her companion should let her share her veil with her, and the women should participate in the good deeds and in the religious gatherings of the believers.' "

Hafsa added, "When Um-`Atiya came, I went to her and asked her, 'Did you hear anything about so-and-so?'

Um-`Atiya said, 'Yes, let my father be sacrificed for the Prophet (pbuh). He said, 'Virgin mature girls staying often screened and menstruating women should come out (on the `Id day). But the menstruating women should keep away from the Musalla. And all the women should participate in the good deeds and in the religious gatherings of the believers'."

Hafsa said, "On that I said to Um-`Atiya, 'Also those who are menstruating?' " Um-`Atiya replied, "Yes. Do they not present themselves at `Arafat and elsewhere?".

Menstruating women should keep away from the Mussalla

Hadith # 981

Narrated Um-`Atiya:

We were ordered to go out (for `Id) and also to take along with us the menstruating women, mature girls and virgins staying in seclusion." The menstruating women could present themselves at the religious gathering and invocation of Muslims but should keep away from their Musalla.

An-Nahr and Adh-Dhabh at the Masjid on the day of Nahr

Hadith # 982

Narrated Ibn `Umar:

The Prophet (pbuh) used to Nahr or slaughter sacrifices at the Musalla (on `Id-ul-Adha).

If the Imam is asked about something while he is delivering the Khutba

Hadith # 983

Narrated Al-Bara' bin `Azib:

On the day of Nahr Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) delivered the Khutba after the `Id prayer and said, "Anyone who prayed like us and slaughtered the sacrifice like we did then he acted according to our (Nusuk) tradition of sacrificing, and whoever slaughtered the sacrifice before the prayer, then that was just mutton (i.e. not sacrifice)."

Abu Burda bin Naiyar stood up and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! By Allah, I slaughtered my sacrifice before I offered the (Id) prayer and thought that today was the day of eating and drinking (nonalcoholic drinks) and so I made haste (in slaughtering) and ate and also fed my family and neighbors."

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "That was just mutton (not a sacrifice)."

Then Abu Burda said, "I have a young she-goat and no doubt, it is better than two sheep. Will that be sufficient as a sacrifice for me?" The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, "Yes. But it will not be sufficient for anyone else (as a sacrifice), after you."

Hadith # 984

Narrated Anas bin Malik:

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) offered the prayer on the day of Nahr and then delivered the Khutba and ordered that whoever had slaughtered his sacrifice before the prayer should repeat it, that is, should slaughter another sacrifice.

Then a person from the Ansar stood up and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! because of my neighbors (he described them as being very needy or poor) I slaughtered before the prayer. I have a young she-goat which, in my opinion, is better than two sheep." The Prophet (ﷺ) gave him the permission for slaughtering it as a sacrifice.

Hadith # 985

Narrated Jundab:

On the day of Nahr the Prophet (ﷺ) offered the prayer and delivered the Khutba and then slaughtered the sacrifice and said,

"Anybody who slaughtered (his sacrifice) before the prayer should slaughter another animal in lieu of it, and the one who has not yet slaughtered should slaughter the sacrifice mentioning Allah's name on it."

Whoever returned on the day of Eid through a way different by which he went

Hadith # 986

Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah:

On the Day of `Id the Prophet (ﷺ) used to return (after offering the `Id prayer) through a way different from that by which he went.

Whoever missed the Eid prayer should offer two Rak'a prayer

Hadith # 987, 988

Narrated `Urwa on the authority of `Aisha:

On the days of Mina, (11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah) Abu Bakr came to her while two young girls were beating the tambourine and the Prophet (ﷺ) was lying covered with his clothes.

Abu Bakr scolded them and the Prophet (ﷺ) uncovered his face and said to Abu Bakr, "Leave them, for these days are the days of `Id and the days of Mina." `

Aisha further said, "Once the Prophet (ﷺ) was screening me and I was watching the display of black slaves in the Mosque and (`Umar) scolded them. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'Leave them. O Bani Arfida! (carry on), you are safe (protected)'."

Salat before or after the Eid prayer

Hadith # 989

Narrated Ibn `Abbas:

The Prophet (ﷺ) went out and offered a two rak`at prayer on the Day of `Id ul Fitr and did not offer any other prayer before or after it and at that time Bilal was accompanying him.