A day of thanksgiving and rejoicing

The ceremony of Eid Al-Fitr starts early in the morning with collective worship. This service is generally held in a large open place and is attended by thousands of Muslims. After the prayer the leader of the prayer (Imam) delivers a short sermon and then people greet each other. The rest of the ceremonies are generally held privately with families and friends.
The significance of Eid Al-Fitr is that it is a day of thanksgiving to Allah for giving the opportunity to the Muslims to benefit from and enjoy the blessings of the month of Ramadan.”

Rulings of Eid
Elaborating on the rulings of Eid, Sheikh M. S. Al-Munajjid, a prominent Saudi Islamic lecturer and author, stated:
1. Fasting: It is haram (prohibited) to fast on the days of Eid because of the Hadith of Abu Said Al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) in which he said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited fasting on the day of Fitr and the day of Adha. (Reported by Muslim)
2. Offering Eid prayers: Some of the scholars say that Eid prayers are Wajib (obligatory). This is the view of the Hanafi scholars and of Sheikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah. Some scholars say that Eid prayer is Fard Kifayah (a communal duty, binding on the Muslims as a group, which is fulfilled if a sufficient number of people perform it, thereby absolving the rest of sin). This is the view of the Hanbalis. A third group says that Eid prayer is Sunnah Muakkadah (a Sunnah that the Prophet constantly performed). This is the view of the Malikis and Shafiis.
3. Offering supererogatory prayers: There are no supererogatory prayers to be offered either before or after the Eid prayer, as Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to go out on the day of Eid and pray two Rakahs, with nothing before or after them. This is the case if the prayer is offered in an open area. If, however, the people pray the Eid prayer in a mosque, then they should pray two Rakahs for Tahiyat Al-Masjid (a way of greeting the mosque).
4. Women attending Eid prayers: According to the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) everyone is urged to attend Eid prayer, and to co-operate with one another in righteousness and piety. The menstruating woman should not forsake the remembrance of Allah or places of goodness such as gatherings for the purpose of seeking knowledge and remembering Allah – apart from mosques. Women, of course, should not go out without a Hijab.

Etiquette of Eid
Elaborating on the etiquette of Eid, Sheikh M. S. Al-Munajjid, stated:
1. Ghusl (taking a bath): One of the good manners of Eid is to take a bath before going out prayer. It was reported that Said ibn Jubayr said, “Three things are Sunnah on Eid: to walk (to the prayer-place), to take a bath, and to eat before going out (if it is Eid Al-Fitr).”
2. Eating before going out: One should not go out to the prayer-place on Eidul-Fitr before eating some dates, because of the hadith narrated by Al-Bukhari from Anas ibn Malik who said, “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would not go out in the morning of Eidul-Fitr until he had eaten some dates… and he would eat an odd number.” On Eidul-Adha, on the other hand, it is Mustahab (recommended) not to eat until after the prayer, when one should eat from the meat of one’s sacrifice.
3. Takbir on the day of Eid: This is one of the greatest Sunnah of this day. Al-Daraqutni and others reported that when Ibn Umar went out on Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha, he would constantly make Takbir until he reached the prayer-place, then he would continue making Takbir until the Imam came.
4. Congratulating one another: People may exchange congratulations and good greetings on Eid, no matter what form the words may take. For example they may say to one another, “Taqabbal Allahu minnaa wa minkum (may Allah accept from us and from you (our good deeds)!)” Jubayr ibn Nufayr said, “At the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when people met one another on the day of Eid, they would say, ‘Taqabbal Allahu minnaa wa minka’.” (Reported by Ibn Hajar)
5. Wearing one’s best clothes for Eid: Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had a Jubbah (cloak) that he would wear on Eid and on Fridays.” Al-Bayhaqi reported that Ibn Umar used to wear his best clothes on Eid, so men should wear the best clothes they have when they go out for Eid.
6. Changing the route on returning from the prayer-place: Jabir ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to take different routes on the day of Eid (going to and returning from the Eid prayer). (Al-Bukhari)”
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