Making The Most of Eid
Living in America we are exposed to many holidays practiced by many different types of people and religions. As Muslim our feasts/festivals are that of Eid ul Fitr, Eid ul Adha, and Jummah.
Acts of Sunnah on the first day of Eid
- Wake up early.
- Offer Salat al-Fajr.
- Prepare for personal cleanliness take care of details of clothing, etc.
- Make Ghusl (bath) after Fajr.
- Brush your teeth.
- Dress up, putting on best clothes available, whether new or cleaned old ones.
- Use perfume (men only).
- Have breakfast on Eid al-Fitr before leaving for prayer ground. On Eid-al-Adha, eat breakfast after Salaat or after sacrifice if you are doing a sacrifice.
- Pay Zakat al-Fitr before Salat al-Eid (on Eid al-Fitr).
- Go to prayer ground early.
- Offer Salat al-Eid in congregation in an open place except when whether is not permitting like rain, snow, etc.
- Use two separate routes to and from the prayer ground.
- Recite the following Takbir on the way to Salaat and until the beginning of Salat al-Eid. : Allahu-Akbar, Allahu-Akbar. La ilaha illa-lah. Allahu-Akbar, Allahu-Akbar. Wa-lilahi al-hamd. (Allah is greater. Allah is greater. There is no God but Allah. Allah is greater. Allah is greater. And all praises are for Allah).
All of these Sunnahs have become permanent family traditions in our family. Many of which I remember from when I was a small child. It is important to make the Prophet’s (pbuh) Sunnah part of our everyday lives and traditions so that our children see that Islam truly is a way of life.
Preparations for Eid begin well before Eid. I shop around for new clothes earlier in the year to find the best deal and not end up paying full price for a clothing that my family isn’t truly excited to wear. The same applies for Eid gifts. Always buy in advance when possible. You will avoid the stress of last minute shopping and also save money when you find special gifts on sale much sooner than you actually need them.
If you didn’t decorate for Ramadan, make an effort to decorate your house for Eid. My daughters look forward to helping me pick out and decide where to hang the decorations. The get excited when friends and family come over, pointing out all of the special things we’ve done to the home. A decorated home also makes for a nice backdrop for your family pictures.
In order for the whole family to be fully functioning and in a good mood, I always make sure to provide a filling and healthy breakfast prior to leaving for Eid prayer. I prepare muffin batter the night before and bake them fresh in the morning. We enjoy having warm muffins along with fresh fruit, yogurts, orange juice, and coffee. Once we’ve completed breakfast, clean up simply requires returning things to the fridge and placing the few dishes into the dishwasher. I don’t know a single mother that wants to clean her kitchen after a huge breakfast early on Eid morning. Keep it simple!
The night before Eid, I set out everyone’s clothing, from hair accessories to shoes and everything in between. I pack a small bag of additional clothing that include extra tights or another special outfit for the kids just in case. Having everything out and ready enables my husband to help with dressing the girls while I finish getting myself dressed without the added stress of getting every single person ready on my own.
I also set out our gifts the night before so that the girls wake up to find their presents and fully realize that it truly is the start of Eid. Typically I allow them to open one present prior to leaving to Eid prayer. In order to receive that privilege they must be cooperative during the morning by washing up, eating breakfast, and getting dressed without any whining or complaints.
Before leaving the house, I ensure that I have brought along a small and quiet toy for each girl to occupy herself with during the prayer so that they do not disturb or distract anyone. I also pack a small snack to hold their little tummies over until our traditional Eid breakfast that we always enjoy after we have completed the prayer.
Make sure you have a full tank of gas before heading out! Having to stop and put gas can greatly delay you from reaching your destination on time. Speaking of your destination, do you know the proper location and have correct directions? Many times people become confused about locations and miss the prayer completely! Confirm the location in advance and print out reliable directions if you do not own a GPS.
On the way to Eid prayer, a very beautiful Sunnah that I hold dear to from my childhood memories is saying the Takbir in the car with the whole family. It is very simple for little children to recite along and the greatly enjoy the rhythm in which it is repeated.
Hope these tips are helpful, and that you gain the most from following the Sunnah of this day, inshaAllah. Please share your kind feedback, and thoughts below; as we all want to gain Allah’s pleasure during His prescribed days of festival.
Similar Posts:
- How to Cleanse for Eid Prayer
- Tips to Celebrating the Full 3 Days of Eid
- Morning and Evening Du’a (Supplications), Dhiker (Remembrance of Allah)
- News: Eid ul-Fitr in Russia
- Audio Post: A Typical Muslim School Kid’s Morning Routine
Category: Islam
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