1- Prepare yourself for the 'Eed prayer by taking a bath and wearing your best clothes. Imaam Maalik narrated in his Muwatta’ on the authority of Naafi' that, “Ibn ‘Umar used to bathe on the day of 'Eed Al-Fitr before heading to the prayer.”[Authentic chain of narrators]
Ibn Al-Qayyim said, “It was proven from Ibn ‘Umar who was very keen to follow the Sunnah (Prophetic tradition), that he used to bathe before going out on the day of 'Eed.” [Zaad Al-Ma‘aad]
Ibn Hajar also reported that Ibn ‘Umar used to wear his best clothes on the two 'Eeds. [Ibn Abi Ad-Dunya and Al-Bayhaqi]
2- It is a Sunnah (Prophetic tradition) for one to eat an odd number of dates (three, five, and so on), as Anas reported that “The Prophet did not go out on the morning of 'Eed Al-Fitr until he had eaten some dates… of which he would eat an odd number.” [Al-Bukhari]
3- Saying Takbeer (Allahu Akbar) loudly for men and silently for women from the time of leaving the house until reaching the place of 'Eed prayer is a Sunnah, as ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar said, “The Prophet used to go to the 'Eed prayers while saying Takbeer and Tahleel loudly.”[Saheeh (authentic) based on corroborating narrations]
Naafi' also reported that Ibn ‘Umar used to say Takbeer loudly until he reached the place of prayer, then he would continue making Takbeer until the Imaam came out and he would join him in making Takbeer.” [Ad-Daaraqutni with an authentic chain of narrators]
The wordings of Takbeer include what Ibn Abi Shaybah narrated with an authentic chain of narrators that Ibn Mas’ood used to recite Takbeer during the days of Tashreeq saying:
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, laa ilaaha illa-Allah, wa Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, wa Lillaah-il-hamd (Allah Is Most Great, Allah Is most Great, there is no god but Allah, Allah Is Most great, Allah Is most great, and to Allah be praise).
Note: The collective Takbeer (in one voice) is a religious innovation, as it was not reported from the Prophet, , or any one of his honorable Companions. The right way is to make Takbeer individually.
4- Going to the prayer on foot is a Sunnah, as ‘Ali said, “It is Sunnah to go out to the 'Eed (prayer) walking.” [At-Tirmithi and it is classified as Hasan due to the supporting narrations]
5- It is a Sunnah for one to go to the 'Eed prayer using one route and then come back via another one, as Jaabir reported, “The Prophet used to vary his route on the day of 'Eed. He would go by one route and come back by another.”[Al-Bukhari]
6- 'Eed prayer is performed after sunrise without ’Athaan (call for prayer) or Iqaamah (second call to prayer) and it consists of two Rak‘ahs (units of prayer), with Takbeer recited seven times in the first Rak’ah before reciting Quran, and five times in the second Rak’ah before reciting Quran. It is also a Sunnah for the Imaam to recite loudly after Al-Faatihah the Chapter Al-A‘la in the first Rak‘ah and the Chapter Al-Ghaashiyah in the second Rak‘ah or recite the Chapter Qaaf in the first Rak‘ah and the Chapter Al-Qamar in the second Rak‘ah. The prayer precedes the Khutbah and it is a confirmed Sunnah for women to attend the 'Eed prayer.
7- Following are the evidences for these acts of the Sunnah:
a- ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said, “The Prophet used to recite Takbeer seven times in the first Rak’ah of the two 'Eeds of Al-Fitr and Al-Adh-ha, and five times in the second Rak‘ah.” [Abu Daawood with a good chain of narrators and it has many supporting narrations]
b- An-Nu‘maan ibn Basheer said, “The Prophet used to recite in the Friday prayer and the two 'Eed prayers “Sabbih isma rabbika Al-A’la” (Chapter Al-A’laa) and “Hal ataaka hadeeth al-Ghaashiyah” (Chapter Al-Ghaashiyah).”
c- Abu Waaqid Al-Laythi, was asked, “What did the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, usually recite in Al-Fitr and Al-Adh-ha prayers?” He answered, “The two Chapters Qaaf and Al-Qamar.”[Muslim]
d- Umm ‘Atiyyah said, “The Messenger of Allah commanded us to bring out the virgins, adolescent girls and menstruating women on the two 'Eeds of Al-Fitr and Al-Adh-ha, but the menstruating women were to keep away from the place of prayer and witness the gathering of the Muslims.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
e- Ibn ‘Abbaas reported, “I witnessed Al-Fitr prayer with the Messenger of Allah and Abu Bakr, ‘Umar and ‘Uthmaan, and all of them observed this prayer before the Khutbah.”[Muslim]
f- Jaabir ibn Samurah said, “I prayed with the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, prayers of the two 'Eeds more than once or twice without there being ’Athaan (call for prayer) or Iqaamah.”[Muslim]
8- If the 'Eed occurs on a Friday, it becomes optional for whoever performs the 'Eed prayer to attend the Friday Prayer, as the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said on such occurrence: “Two 'Eeds have coincided on this day of yours; thus, whoever wishes is exempted from attending the (Friday) Prayer. Yet, we shall hold it.” [Ibn Maajah on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbaas with a good chain of narrators]
9- If people do not know that a particular day is the 'Eed day before noon, all of them should perform the 'Eed prayer the next morning. ‘Umayr ibn Anas reported on the authority of some of his paternal uncles who were Companions of the Prophet, that “Some men came riding to the Prophet and testified that they had sighted the new moon the previous day. He, therefore, commanded the people to break the fast and to go out to their place of prayer the morning after.”[Authors of the Sunan (Al-Bayhaqi, An-Nawawi, Ibn Hajar and others : Saheeh)]
10- There is no harm in exchanging 'Eed greetings such as “Taqabbal Allahu minna wa minkum (may Allah accept from us and you)”.
Ibn At-Turkumaani said, “There is a good Hadeeth on this issue. Muhammad ibn Ziyaad said, "I was with Abu Umaamah Al-Baahili and some other Companions of the Prophet . When they returned (from the 'Eed prayer), they said to each other, 'Taqabbal Allahu minna wa mink.”Ahmad ibn Hanbal judged its Isnaad as good.” [Al-Jawhar An-Naqi, 3/320]
11- 'Eed is a day of happiness and joy. Anas reported, “When the Messenger of Allah came to Madeenah, they had two days when they would amuse themselves. He said: “What are these two days?” They said, “We used to amuse ourselves on these days during the Jaahiliyyah.” The Messenger said: “Allah has given you instead of them two days that are better than them: the day of Al-Adh-ha and the day of Al-Fitr.” [Ahmad with authentic chain of narrators]
12- Dear brother, you should beware of committing any religious violation that people usually commit on such occasions such as letting garments hang below the ankle (Isbaal), shaving the beard, listening to singing, engaging in prohibited looks, illegal exposure of women’s adornment and their intermixing with men.
Dear father, never take your family to the places of entertainment where there is unlawful intermixing between men and women. The same applies to beaches and parks where religious violations are common and public.