Not Making Ghusl for the Day
The Eid prayer is held in congregation and it is held in a huge gathering more than the Jumuah prayer, therefore, as the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) asked Muslims to make ghusl for Friday prayer, it should also be considered for Eid prayer to serve the purpose. The purpose and the goal is to be clean for prayer and avoid harming the people with odour, etc. The Muslim is required to make ghusl or ablution on this day. It can be done any time but to serve its purpose it is recommended to do it before going out for the prayer. This is recommended because, the person will feel fresh throughout the day, he will have full concentration in his prayer and to what is being mentioned in the khutbah after the prayer and most importantly, he will not harm others with the bad smell. Imaam AI-Baghawee said in Sharhus Sunnah: "And the sunnah is to take a bath on the day of Eid"
Fasting on the Day of Eid
The Muslim should eat before leaving for Eid-ul-Fitr. It is Sunnah to eat an odd number of dates before going to pray salaatul Eid. Anas (RA) reports: The Prophet would not go out on the festival of breaking the fast until he had eaten an odd number of dates." (Bukhari) It is an error to insist on fasting on the day of eid after the moon had. been sighted the night before. Umar bn A1-Khattab who said, "Allaahs Messenger has forbidden people to fast on the day on which you break fasting (the fasts of Ramadan) and the day on which you eat the meat of your sacrifices (the first day of Eld ul Fitr and Eld ul-Adha)."(Bukhari)
Looking Haggard on the Day of Eid
It is a wrong notion to think that spirituality is synonymous with looking haggard and unkempt. One day, while Allaahs Messenger (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) was in the mosque, a man came in with disheveled hair and beard. Allaah’s Messenger motioned with his hand that he should be sent out to groom his hair and beard. The man did so and then returned. Allaahs Messenger said, "Isn’t this better than that one of you should come with his head disheveled as if he were a shaytan?" (Muwatta). The need to look good and presentable within the confines of the Shareah is even more imperative on the day of eid. Jafar ibn-Muhammad relates from his father on the authority of his grandfather who reported that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would wear a Yemeni cloak on every Eid. This is related by ash-Shaafiee and al-Baghawee. Ibn aI-Qayyim (RAH) writes: The Prophet used to wear his most beautiful clothes for them (Muslim festivals) and he had a special cloak that he would wear on the two Eids and Jumuah." (Zaadul Mi aad)
Not Saying the Takbeeraat on the day of Eid
It is sunnah to pronounce the takbeeraat on Eid days. Concerning the Eid of breaking the fast, Allaah says: "you should complete the prescribed period and that you should glorify Allaah [i.e., say takbeeraat] for having guided you and that you may give thanks." (Q2[8aqarah]: 185) Often, instead of doing the takbeeraat, many Muslims either keep quiet or engage in talks devoid of any dhikr. This is contrary to the Sunnah. The majority of the scholars say that the time for the takbeeraat during the Eid of breaking the fast is from the time one goes to the Eid prayer until the khutbah begins. There are authentic reports from Ibn Umar and other Companions that they used to do so. Some say that the takbeeraat are from the night before the Eid, when the moon is seen, until the person goes to the musallaa and the imaam arrives. Women Are Also Required To Pronounce The Takbeer Narrated by Umm Ateeyah (RA): "We used to be ordered to come out on the Day of Eid and even bring out the virgin girls from their houses and menstruating women so that they might stand behind the men and say Takbeer along with them and invoke Allaah along with them and hope for the blessings of that day and for purification from sins." (Bukhari)
Abandoning the Sunnah of Taking Different Routes to and From Musallaa
Most of the people of knowledge are of the opinion that it is preferred for a person to go to the salaah by one route and then to return home through another route, regardless of whether he be the imaam or a member of the congregation. Jabir reports: "On the days of Eid, the Prophet would take different routes." (Bukhari) Abu Hurairah (RA) says: "When the Prophet went to salaatul Eid, he would return through a different route." (Saheeh Sunan At-Tirmdhee)
Offering Sunnah Prayers Before Or After The Eid Prayer
It is not established that there is any sunnah prayer before or after the Eid prayer. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) never performed any such prayer, neither did his companions upon arrival at the musal/a (prayer place). It was the practice of the Muslims at the time Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) that they would not pray any sunnah or nafl prayers before or after the Eid prayer. Abdullaah ibn Abbaas (RA) said: “The Prophet offered a two Rakaat prayer on the day of Eidul Fitr and he did not pray before or after it." (Bukhari)
Returning Without Praying Two Rakaah After One Had Missed Salaatul Eid With The Congregation
In Sahih al-Bukhari we find in the chapter entitled: Whoever missed the Eid prayer should pray two Rakaah, and similarly the women and those who are at home and in the villages should do so, as is confirmed by the statement of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam): "O Muslims, this our Eid". Anas ibn Maalik (RA) at Az-Zaawiyah ordered his slave ibn Abee Ghaneeyah to collect his (Anass) family and off-spring. Anas led prayer similar to that offered by towns people and recited takbeer similar to theirs. Ikrimah said: "The villagers should gather on the day of Eid and offer two rakaah as the Imaam does. II Ataa said, Whoever misses the Eid prayer should pray two rakaah." (Bukhari)
Offering Special Prayer the Night before the Eid
Some people think that Islaam tells us to stay up and pray on the night of Eid, quoting an unsound hadeeth which says that "whoever stays up and prays on the night of Eid, his heart will not die on the day when hearts die." This hadeeth was reported with two isnaads, one of which is daeef (weak), and the other is very daeef (See Al-Fawaaidul Majmooah: by Imaam Ash-Shaukaanee) Islaam does not tell us to single out the night of Eid for staying up and praying; if however, a person habitually stays up and prays at night (qiyaam), there is nothing wrong with him doing so on the night of Eid as well.
Free Mixing of the Opposite Sex
Mixing of men and women in some prayer-places, streets, etc. It is a pity that this happens not only in mosques but even in the most sacred of places, al-Masjid al-Haraam [in Makkah]. Many women, may Allaah guide them - go out uncovered, wearing make-up and perfume, flaunting their adornment, when there is such serious overcrowding in the mosques - the dangers of this situation are quite obvious. So those who are in charge must organize the Eid prayers properly, by allocating separate doors and routes for women and delaying the men's departure until the women have left.
Considering Fasting a Burden Some people celebrate on Eid because Ramadan is over and they no longer have to fast. This is a mistake, the believers celebrate at Eid because Allaah has helped them to complete the month of fasting, not because the fasting, which some people regard as a heavy burden, is over. May Allaah accept and reward us abundantly. (Ameen)!
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited