'Eeds or Festivals are moments of celebration common to all nations. The festivals of non-Muslim nations are associated with worldly matters such as the birth of a nation or its decline, the appointment or crowning of a ruler, his marriage, or the beginning of a season like spring, and so on. As to Muslims, their festivals ('Eeds) are associated with their religious rituals. They have only two festivals or 'Eeds:

'Eed Al-Fitr (celebration of the end of Ramadan) and 'Eed Al-Adh-Ha (Festival of Sacrifice). When the Prophet came to Madeenah and found the people celebrating two days, he asked: “What are these occasions?” They said: “We used to celebrate them before in the pre-Islamic era”. He then said: “Allah, The Exalted, has replaced them for you with two better days (i.e. 'Eed Al-Fitr and 'Eed Al-Adh-Ha)”. These two festivals which Allah prescribed to the Muslims are part of the rituals of Islam which should be commemorated and the purposes of which should be understood.

Rules pertaining to 'Eed:

1-It is forbidden to fast on the day of both 'Eeds, as it is understood from the Hadeeth (narration) reported by Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri may Allah be pleased with him that the Prophet forbade the fasting of the two 'Eeds.

2-It is recommended that both men and women observe 'Eed prayer in an open field as is clear in the Hadeeth narrated by Umm 'Atiyyah, may Allah be pleased with her, who said: “We used to be ordered to come out on the day of 'Eed and even to bring the virgin girls from their houses and menstruating women so that they might stand behind the men and say Takbeer (Allahu Akbar) along with them and hope for the blessings of that day for purification from sins”. Since menstruating women as well as those who are virgin are commanded to observe 'Eed prayer, there is no doubt that the men, old and young are even strongly commanded to observe it.

3-'Eed prayer should be performed before the Khutba of 'Eed as is confirmed in the Hadeeth narrated by Ibn 'Amr, Abu Sa’eed and Ibn Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with them.

4-It is recommended that the Imaam makes Takbeer (Allahu-Akbar) during the prayer, seven times in the first Rak’ah and five in the second. This has been confirmed by the companions may Allah be pleased with them and the Salaf (the righteous generation of the predecessors) .

5-It is recommended that the Imaam recites in the first Rak’ah Soorah Al-A’la (Chapter.87) and Soorah Al-Ghaashiyah (Chapter.88) in the second. Other reports also show that the Prophet used to recite Soorat Qaaf (Chapter.50) and Soorah Al-Qamar (Chapter.54) as is confirmed in Saheeh Muslim.

6-There is no Sunnah ( recommended) prayer either before or after 'Eed prayer as Ibn Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that whenever the Prophet went for 'Eed prayer, he used to pray two Rak'ahs (of 'Eed) but nothing before or after them .

Good deeds pertaining to 'Eed:

1- Having a bath before going out to prayer: It is confirmed in Imaam Maalik’s Al-Muwatta', and other books that 'Abdullaah Ibn 'Umar may Allah be pleased with them used to take a bath on the day of 'Eed Al-Fitr before going out for 'Eed prayer. It has also been confirmed that Sa’eed Ibn Jubayr, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “The Sunnah of 'Eed lies in three acts: Walking to the open field (Musalla) where the prayer takes place, taking a bath, and eating before going out to pray”.

Yet on the day of 'Eed Al-Adh-Ha, it is rather recommended that the Muslim eat after the 'Eed prayer and not before, and first from his sacrificial animal.

2- Making Takbeer (saying Allahu Akbar) on the day of 'Eed: It has also been reported that Ibn 'Umar may Allah be pleased with him used to make Takbeer whenever he went out for 'Eed prayer. Making Takbeer between one’s home and the place of prayer until the Imaam enters the mosque used to be a common practice among the Salaf. Furthermore, Naafi’ Ibn Jubayr may Allah be pleased with him used to make Takbeer and used to express his astonishment that people did not do so; he would say to them: ‘Why will you not make Takbeer”?

The wording of Takbeer is:

Allahu-Akbar (Twice)

Laa-ilaaha illa-Allah.

Allahu-Akbar (Twice)

Wa-Lillaahil-Hamd.

3. Slaughtering the sacrifice on the day of Al-Adh-Ha on one’s behalf and on behalf of his family. It is recommended that it is done soon after the 'Eed prayer but it could be done on the two or three days after the day of Al-Adh-Ha.

4. It is recommended to say Takbeer after daily congregational prayers starting from Fajr prayer of the day of 'Arafah (the 9^th of Thul-Hijjah) to ‘Asr prayer on the last day of At-Tashreeq (the 13^th).

5. Congratulation is one of the rules of 'Eed, exchanged between the Muslims, especially relatives and friends, in any manner such as telling each other: “May Allah accept from us and from you”. This congratulation is a sign of high moral standards and virtues of social manifestations among the Muslims.

6. Adorning oneself by wearing the best clothes one has. 'Abdullaah Ibn 'Umar may Allah be pleased with them both said: " 'Umar may Allah be pleased with him bought a silk cloak from the market, took it to the Prophet and said: 'O Allah’s Apostle! Take it and adorn yourself with it during the 'Eeds and when the delegations visit you. Allah’s Apostle answered: “This dress is for those who have no share in the Hereafter”. [Al-Bukhari]

This proves that adorning oneself in 'Eed was a familiar practice in the time of the Prophet but he blamed 'Umar for buying that dress because it was made of silk which men are not allowed to wear.

Jaabir, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet used to wear a Jubbah on Fridays and on the days of 'Eed”. The men are therefore supposed to wear their best clothes on 'Eed day.

-As for women, they should avoid adorning themselves when they go out of their homes because they are forbidden to reveal their adornment in front of men who are foreign to them.

Similarly, it is forbidden for women to put on perfume on the day of 'Eed (as well as other occasions) when they go out because it is for the purpose of obedience that they are allowed to go out of their homes; will it then be accepted of a believing women to disobey Allah Almighty by wearing tight fitting, multi-colored attractive clothes or spraying herself with perfume?