Eid al Fitr and Eid al Adha are not merely holiday celebrations. They are events in which there is much spiritual reward to be gained alongside the general happiness and celebrations. Herein we will discuss how we can go about getting the most out of our upcoming Eid.

Pray when happy, and He shall help you when sad
The night of Eid is significant. Often wasted with hours spent on cosmetic sessions, chats for a better menu, or plans for a possible free meal out. It is advised that persons try and get up and perform the Tahajud Salah. Make Dua for themselves and the entire Ummah. If we remember Allah in moments of happiness, He is sure to be with us during sadness. If we remember others, Insha-Allah, they would remember us. (May Allah save us from all types of sorrow and grief, Ameen)
To recite the following takbiraat in a soft tone until one arrives at the place of Eid salah. One can recite it in any or all of the following:

• The most common one is:

الله أكبر .. الله أكبر .. لا إله إلا الله ، الله أكبر .. الله أكبر .. ولله الحمد

Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, laa ilaaha ilallahu wAllaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar walillaahil hamd.

• Or if one chooses, one can recite:

الله أكبر .. الله أكبر .. الله أكبر .. لا إله إلا الله ، الله أكبر .. الله أكبر .. الله أكبر .. ولله الحمد

Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, laa ilaaha ilallaah, Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar walillaahil hamd.

• Or one can recite:

الله أكبر .. الله أكبر .. الله أكبر .. لا إله إلا الله ، الله أكبر .. الله أكبر .. ولله الحمد

Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar kabeera.

• Or you can recite:

???? ????? ???? ????? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ? ???? ???? ??? ?? ?????

Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar wa lillaahil hamd, Allaahu akbar wa ajl, Allaahu akbar ‘alaa maa hadaanaa.

Alternately, one could include and recite all of the above takbiraat at once.
Perform Fajr salaah in jamaat (group form), preferably in a masjid.

Before the day of Eid

• In advance, give Sadaqat ul-fitr for the Eid ul-fitr (and a bit more, if it is possible for you to do so.) The poor do have a legitimate right to their charity, and a right to enjoy their Eid as best as possible.
• For Eid ul-fitr, Eid eat a date or something sweet prior to going to the Eid salaah

Can you look nice, please?
Beyond the cosmetics and beautiful clothing we all take pride in wearing on the day of Eid, there are other details that might skip our notice. Some of them include:

• Cut one’s hair in the proper manner; abstain from a wedge-type haircut or a haircut where the hairs are lacking an even length.
• Trim the nails (and removes one’s paws as some tend to call them), and remove the dirt from beneath the nails.
• Trim the mustache, shave and cleanse pubic area, cleanse one’s teeth with preferably the miswak, have a bath (Yes, we all do these things, but just in case…).
• Wear the best clothes one has while fulfilling the requirements of the Sunnah. If Allah (subhanahu wa ta’aala) has not blessed you with new clothes, then please wash them to show appreciation that Allah has bestowed with clothes. Allah (subhanahu wa ta’aala) loves the grateful and appreciative. Humanity also loves such people. It is a great quality to inculcate.
• Use a fragrance that is appealing (do not offend others by breaking the entire bottle on yourself!). The fragrance is for you to smell good, it is not to fumigate the entire gathering (unless you were appointed to do so by the Greater Salt Lake Aromatherapy Committee!)

About the eating of your animal

Eid al Adha comes with the excitement of commemorating the sacrifice of Ibrahim (alayhis salaam) for his son Ismail (alayhis salaam). Along with this comes a few points to keep in mind:

• As for Eid ul-Adha, eat from one’s sacrificial animal as soon as one can possibly do so. This applies to those who slaughter immediately after salaah. They may cook a portion of their qurban and enjoy in its appeal. (Islam is not recommending starvation, or unhealthy dieting practices either.)
• If possible, share the meat with family, friends, and the poor. Enjoy its permissible contents for yourself and immediate family as well. To consume all the meat yourself without the full need to do so can imply selfishness, to give it all away can imply a lack of caring for your animal. So we try and be balanced. Such a distribution can also be done with feeding guests over a period of time

The Salaah: Before and After

• Try to perform salaah in a place allocated specifically for Eid salah. For Muslims in the west, this sunnah may be somewhat difficult to follow. But an attempt should be made to acquire such a place.
• Set out for the Eid progam as early as possible. At the very least, aim to be at the place of Eid prayer prior to the crowds entry.
• If possible, walk to the place of prayer while reciting the takbeer in a loving tone.
• Use differing routes to and from the place of Eid salaah.
• Smaller masjids and Islamic centers should try and join the main masjids and Islamic centers, provided the Eid is done on the correct day, and there are a minimum of evil practices to be witnessed. For example, should women attend the gathering, then such a gathering must ensure that women are given their privacy, assurances by those in charge that Islamic violations would not take place, a large gathering would prove safe for ones Imaan (and life), etc.
• Unlike the Jummah, for Eid, first perform the Eid salaah, and then perform the Khutba.
• Be kind and more charitable than usual.
• Do not look at men and women who are forbidden for you to look at.
• Meet each other with the salaam, not Eid Mubarak. Once the sunnah salam is completed, you may then wish each other the best wishes, be it Eid Mubarak, etc. Doing so is not Bid’ah, unless one thinks that such a congratulatory gesture is incumbent (we cannot bind what Islam has not bound upon us)
• Perform 2 or 4 rakats when returning home from the Eid salaah. It is highly preferred that this nafl salaah is not performed at the place of Eid salaah and khutba.

Insha-Allah, following these very easy-to-implement ideas will result in a tremendous amount of hasanah (reward) for us all. May Allah bless your day of Eid with happiness and peace with the ones you love most, Ameen.