Sunnahs of the Two Eids in the Quran & Sunnah

1. So pray to your Lord — and sacrifice.

Allah says:

فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَٱنْحَرْ

So, offer Salāh (prayer) to your Lord, and sacrifice. (Surah al-Kawthar 108:2)

Lesson: The shortest surah joins the two acts of Eid al-Adha in one command: the prayer for your Lord alone, and the sacrifice in His name.

2. Eat of the sacrifice — and feed the contented poor and the beggar.

Allah says:

وَٱلْبُدْنَ جَعَلْنَـٰهَا لَكُم مِّن شَعَـٰٓئِرِ ٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ فِيهَا خَيْرٌ ۖ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا صَوَآفَّ ۖ فَإِذَا وَجَبَتْ جُنُوبُهَا فَكُلُوا۟ مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا۟ ٱلْقَانِعَ وَٱلْمُعْتَرَّ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ سَخَّرْنَـٰهَا لَكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

The big animals of sacrifice (like camels and cows) are made by Us among the symbols of Allah for you, in which there is much good for your benefit. So recite the name of Allah over them as they are lined up (for sacrifice). Then, once their flanks fall down (after slaughter), eat of them and feed the one who is content and the one who wishes to receive. Thus We have made them (the animals) subjugated to you, so that you may be grateful. (Surah al-Hajj 22:36)

Lesson: The sacrificial animals are among Allah’s rites: their meat is eaten by the family and shared with the poor who ask and the poor who do not.

3. Neither the meat nor the blood reaches Allah — the taqwa from you reaches Him.

Allah says:

لَن يَنَالَ ٱللَّهَ لُحُومُهَا وَلَا دِمَآؤُهَا وَلَـٰكِن يَنَالُهُ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ مِنكُمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ سَخَّرَهَا لَكُمْ لِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

It is neither their flesh nor their blood that reaches Allah, but what does reach Him is the taqwā (the sense of obedience) on your part. Thus He has made them (the animals) subjugated to you, so that you proclaim Allah’s glory for the guidance He gave you. And give good news to those who are good in their deeds. (Surah al-Hajj 22:37)

Lesson: The spirit of the sacrifice is God-consciousness; the etiquette of Eid is measured by sincerity, not by the size of the animal.

1. Never fast on an Eid day — both Eids are days of eating and joy.

‘Umar said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade fasting on these two days: the day of your Fitr from your fast, and the other day, on which you eat of your sacrifices.”

2. On Eid al-Fitr, eat before you go out — dates, in an odd number.

Anas said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would not go out in the morning of Eid al-Fitr until he had eaten some dates” — and he would eat them in odd numbers. Breaking the fast publicly is part of the day’s meaning.

3. On Eid al-Adha, wait — eat first from your own sacrifice.

He would not eat on the day of Adha until he returned, and then he would eat from his sacrificial animal. The first taste of the day is from the offering made for Allah.

4. The order of Adha: prayer first, then the sacrifice.

“The first thing we do on this day of ours is that we pray, then we return and sacrifice. Whoever does that has followed our Sunnah; and whoever sacrificed before the prayer, it is only meat he has presented to his family — it has nothing of the rite in it.”

5. The Eid prayer is announced by no adhan and no iqamah.

Ibn ‘Abbas and Jabir said: “There was no adhan on the day of Fitr and the day of Adha, and no iqamah.” The people gather at the known time, and the prayer begins.

6. Bring everyone out — the women too witness the good and the dua of the Muslims.

Umm ‘Atiyyah said: “We were commanded to bring out on the two Eids the mature girls and the women in seclusion — and the menstruating women — to witness the good and the supplication of the Muslims, and the menstruating women kept away from the prayer place.” Eid belongs to the whole community.

7. Go to the prayer ground by one road and return by another.

On the day of Eid, the Prophet ﷺ would take a different road on his return from the one he took going out. More streets hear the takbir, and more people are greeted.

8. The days of Eid are days of eating, drinking and remembrance — Mina’s days included.

“The Day of ‘Arafah, the Day of Sacrifice, and the days of Mina are our festival, the people of Islam: days of eating and drinking.” Fasting is set aside so that gratitude is eaten and shared.

9. Lawful joy has its place on Eid — he let the Abyssinians play in the mosque.

The Abyssinians were playing with their spears, and the Prophet ﷺ screened ‘Aishah with his cloak while she watched them play on the day of Eid. Celebration inside the limits is part of the day.

10. And when Abu Bakr objected to singing in his house on Eid, he defended the joy of the day.

Two young girls were singing in ‘Aishah’s room on the day of Eid; Abu Bakr entered and objected, and the Prophet ﷺ said: “Leave them, O Abu Bakr — every people has a festival, and this is our festival.”