ʿĀʾisha narrated that the Messenger of Allāh [ﷺ] said:

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“…Every nation has an ʿĪd, and this is our ʿĪd”^[1]

Ten Points Regarding Eid (ʿĪd)

1. It is called ʿĪd due to its reoccurrence every year with renewed happiness and joy.^[2]

2. It is a time where the servant is joyful after being blessed by Allāh in completing various types of worship; fasting the month of Ramaḍān (ʿĪd al-Fiṭr), performing the rites of Ḥajj and fasting on the day of al-ʿArafah (ʿĪd al-Aḍḥà). The worshippers are grateful for these opportunities to have their sins forgiven.^[3]

3. ʿĪd is a form of worship. Along with celebrating, we glorify and remember Allāh on this day. He said:

وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٖ جَعَلۡنَا مَنسَكٗا لِّيَذۡكُرُواْ ٱسۡمَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّنۢ بَهِيمَةِ ٱلۡأَنۡعَٰمِۗ

And for every nation We have appointed religious rites, that they may mention the Name of Allāh over the beast of cattle that He has provided them.
(Al-Hajj, 22:34)

ʿAbdullāh b. ʿAbbās said (rites) in this verse is referring to ʿĪd.^[4]

4. On ʿĪd al-Fiṭr, we must give Zakāt al-Fiṭr to the needy before the prayer [al-Bukhārī: 1438,1440]. As for ʿĪd al-Aḍḥà, the sacrificing of cattle has to be done after the prayer.^[5]

5. From the benefits of giving Zakāt al- Fiṭr is that it protects the poor from needing to ask for food on that day. It is also an opportunity to make up for any deficiencies we had in our fasts.^[6]

6. It is impermissible to fast on the days of ʿĪd.^[7]

7. It has been relayed that there is a consensus amongst jurists that taking a ritual bath (ghusl) and beautifying oneself on Īd is recommended.^[8] It is also recorded that ‘Abdullāh b. ‘Umar used to take a ritual bath on ʿĪd al-Fiṭr and wear his best garment.^[9]

8. The ʿĪd prayer is preferably prayed in an open space.^[10] If not possible, then in a masjid, according to a consensus of the scholars.^[11] If one misses or is unable to pray in an open place or masjid, they pray at home due to the action of Anas b. Mālik.^[12]

9. For the ʿĪd prayer, we pray two rakʿah. We say Allāhu Akbar 7 times (including the opening Takbir for the prayer) in the first rak’ah and 5 times (excluding the takbīr of rising) in the second. After the takbīrs in each rakʿah, we recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥa and a second Sūrah; preferably Sūrah al-Aʿlà in the first rakʿah and Sūrah al-Ghāshiyah in the second^[13] or Sūrah Qāf in the first and al-Qamar in the second.^[14]

10. Being a day of celebration and joy, part of that joy is in maintaining obedience to Allāh and good manners with the people. The Messenger [ﷺ] said: “Fear Allāh wherever you may be, and follow up an evil deed with a good deed and it will wipe it away, and treat the people with good manners.”^[15]