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 remove 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…).
• Woman: Remove facial hairs. This is more rewarding then letting it grow in the case of woman (shami)
• 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 you 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!)
• Woman: use your fragrance for your (ghair mahram) family members, not for strange men. Using it for strange men attains an awkward punishment.

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.