The Eid prayer is considered one of the greatest rituals of Islam, in which Muslims express joy and happiness. There are many recommended Sunnahs reported from the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) that Muslims should follow before and after the Eid prayer, to attain the full reward and follow the Prophet’s guidance.
In this article, we present to you the most important recommended Sunnahs before and after the Eid prayer in detail.
Recommended Sunnahs Before the Eid Prayer
Before we discuss the recommended Sunnahs, we would like to inform you that Zakat al-Fitr must be paid during the month of Ramadan and before the Eid prayer (it is an obligation on every Muslim who possesses enough food for the day). This is because delaying it until after the prayer makes it a regular charity (Sadaqah) rather than an accepted Zakat.
- Ghusl and Perfuming: Among the most prominent recommended Sunnahs before the Eid prayer, as a Muslim should perform Ghusl (ritual bath) before going out for the prayer, apply perfume, and wear the best clothes they have.
- Eating food before leaving: It is from the Sunnah for a Muslim to eat before going to the prayer, so that they do not perform the Eid al-Fitr prayer while fasting.
- Reciting Takbir Frequently: It is recommended to recite Takbir from the dawn of Eid day until the start of the prayer. One of the most famous formulas of Takbir is:
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar. La ilaha illallah. Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, wa lillahil-hamd, “الله أكبر الله أكبر الله أكبر، لا إله إلا الله، الله أكبر الله أكبر ولله الحمد”. - Going Early to the Prayer: It is from the Sunnah for worshipers to go to the mosques early, to earn the reward and to catch the Takbir.
- It is preferable for a Muslim to go to the Eid prayer by one route and return by another.
Recommended Sunnahs After the Eid al-Fitr Prayer
- Eid Greetings: It is recommended for Muslims to congratulate one another by saying, May Allah accept from us and you “Taqabbalallahu Minna wa Minkum”.
- Kindness to Relatives: One of the best deeds after the Eid prayer is upholding kinship ties by visiting family, relatives, and friends to spread love and bring joy to others.
- Eidiya: Giving Eidiya is considered a good tradition to bring joy to the hearts of both young and old. It can be given to children, the wife, parents, and relatives. It is regarded as a voluntary charity (Sadaqah) for which one is rewarded, and it also contributes to strengthening family bonds.
Conclusion
The Eid prayer is one of the rituals of Islam that every Muslim must venerate. It is a confirmed Sunnah (Sunnah Mu’akkadah) that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) was keen to perform.
Therefore, following the recommended Sunnahs on the day of Eid increases the reward and demonstrates the beauty of Islam in combining joy and worship together.
