From our AlMaghrib family to you and your loved ones, may Allah bless your Eid and make it beautiful and memorable in the best of ways!
May Allah accept from us and you!
The Prophet ﷺ gave us a beautiful set of Sunnah actions to mark this day, and following them is part of what makes the celebration feel like a celebration.
Here are some of the Sunnah actions of Eid you don’t want to miss!
1. Make Ghusl Before the Prayer
The scholars are in consensus on this one: making ghusl on the morning of Eid after Fajr time and before you head out for the prayer is a recommended action.
Not obligatory, but something that sets the tone. Start this blessed day clean and refreshed.
2. Wear Your Best Clothes
Your best clothes, best smell, and best smile.
The Prophet ﷺ actually had clothes he reserved specifically for Eid, he didn’t wear them any other time. That’s how seriously he took showing up for this day. It’s a day of joy, so dress like it.
3. Eat Before You Leave (Eid al-Fitr)
This one is specific to Eid al-Fitr.
Before heading to the prayer, eat something. An odd number of dates is the established Sunnah. The point is that you’re making it visually clear that you are not fasting. Ramadan is done. Today is a day of happiness.
4. Make Takbeer
This is arguably the greatest Sunnah of Eid. Allah ﷻ says:
وَلِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
“…so that you complete the period and glorify Allah for having guided you, and perhaps you will be grateful.” (Al-Baqarah: 185)
The companions took this seriously. Abdullah ibn Umar and Abdullah ibn Mas’ud رضي الله عنهم would walk through the markets saying the Takbeer out loud, strong, proud, and joyful. They weren’t shy about it.
As for the exact wording, there’s no specific form authentically established from the Prophet ﷺ himself. But we have narrations from the companions. The most well-known, narrated from Abdullah ibn Mas’ud رضي الله عنه, is:
Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, lā ilāha illā Allāh, Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, wa lillāhi al-ḥamd.
Another narration adds a third Takbeer at the beginning:
Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, lā ilāha illā Allāh, Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, wa lillāhi al-ḥamd.
Both are acceptable. The matter is flexible, what counts is the attitude behind it, the gratitude and love.
The Takbeer starts from the night of Eid (when the moon is sighted or 30 days have been completed) and continues through the night, the morning, on the way to the prayer — and it stops when the Imam comes out to the musalla.
5. Pray in an Open Area
The traditional Sunnah is to pray Eid in a musalla, an open, outdoor prayer space, not inside a masjid. In climates where that’s possible, it’s the ideal.
For those of us in the northern regions where the weather has other plans, praying inside a masjid is what most communities do, and that’s fine.
6. Take a Different Route Home
Jabir رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ would go to the Eid prayer by one route and return by another. [Bukhari]
Part of the wisdom in this is spreading the Takbeer as widely as possible, giving maximum exposure.
There’s a deeper layer to it too: the earth, the trees, the pavement beneath your feet, these inanimate objects are witnessing you. They have their own form of dhikr, and they’ll be witnesses on your behalf. Walking through the streets in a state of glorifying Allah ﷻ is never meaningless.
7. Congratulate Each Other
Spreading congratulations is a Sunnah, in spirit, if not in a specific form. There’s no established narration from the Prophet ﷺ about how to congratulate. What is narrated from the companions is phrases like:
TaqabbalAllāhu minnā wa minkum ṣāliḥ al-aʿmāl
May Allah accept from me and you our righteous deeds.
“Eid Mubarak” and similar expressions are perfectly fine. The point is the warmth and the joy. Imam Ahmad, by the way, didn’t initiate greetings himself — but when someone said it to him, he’d respond. So if people say it to you, respond with something good.
[BONUS] Remember Those Who Are Often Forgotten!
The spirit of Eid is joy for everyone. The obligation of Zakat al-Fitr exists precisely so that the poor are part of the celebration. But poverty isn’t the only thing that can leave someone on the outside of Eid joy.
Think about the immigrants, the foreign students, the converts in your community, people who don’t have the family networks or the history in the community that others do.
Make an effort. Invite people into your home. Push your masjid to organise Eid gatherings. Make sure no one spends this day feeling forgotten.
TaqabbalAllāhu minnā wa minkum. May Allah accept from all of us.
