CHAPTER 1. A display of spears and shields on ‘Eid festival day..

2:70 Narrated by Aisha

Allah’s Apostle (p.b.u.h) came to my house while two girls were singing beside me the songs of Buath (a story about the war between the two tribes of the Ansar, the Khazraj and the Aus, before Islam). The Prophet (p.b.u.h) lay down and turned his face to the other side. Then Abu Bakr came and spoke to me harshly saying, “Musical instruments of Satan near the Prophet (p.b.u.h) ?” Allah’s Apostle (p.b.u.h) turned his face towards him and said, “Leave them.” When Abu Bakr became inattentive, I signalled to those girls to go out and they left. It was the day of ‘Id, and the Black people were playing with shields and spears; so either I requested the Prophet (p.b.u.h) or he asked me whether I would like to see the display. I replied in the affirmative. Then the Prophet (p.b.u.h) made me stand behind him and my cheek was touching his cheek and he was saying, “Carry on! O Bani Arfida,” till I got tired. The Prophet (p.b.u.h) asked me, “Are you satisfied (Is that sufficient for you)?” I replied in the affirmative and he told me to leave.

CHAPTER 2. Eating on the day of Fitr before going out (for the ‘Eid-uI-Ftr prayer).

2:73 Narrated by Anas bin Malik,

Allah’s Apostle never proceeded (for the prayer) on the Day of ‘Id-ul-Fitr unless he had eaten some dates. Anas also narrated: The Prophet used to eat odd number of dates.

CHAPTER 3. Eating on the day of Nahr (10th of Dhul-Hijja).

2:75 Narrated by Al-Bara’ bin ‘Azib

The Prophet delivered the Khutba after offering the prayer on the Day of Nahr and said, “Whoever offers the prayer like us and slaughters like us then his Nusuk (sacrifice) will be accepted by Allah. And whoever slaughters his sacrifice before the ‘Id prayer then he has not done the sacrifice.” Abi Burda bin Niyar, the uncle of Al-Bara’ said, “O Allah’s Apostle! I have slaughtered my sheep before the ‘Id prayer and I thought today as a day of eating and drinking (not alcoholic drinks), and I liked that my sheep should be the first to be slaughtered in my house. So slaughtered my sheep and took my food before coming for the prayer.” The Prophet said, “The sheep which you have slaughtered is just mutton (not a Nusuk).” He (Abu Burda) said, “O Allah’s Apostle! I have a young she-goat which is dearer to me than two sheep. Will that be sufficient as a Nusuk on my behalf? “The Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, “Yes, it will be sufficient for you but it will not be sufficient (as a Nusuk) for anyone else after you.”

CHAPTER 4. To proceed to a Musalla without pulpit.

2:76 Narrated by Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri

The Prophet used to proceed to the Musalla on the days of Id-ul-Fitr and Id-ul-Adha; the first thing to begin with was the prayer and after that he would stand in front of the people and the people would keep sitting in their rows. Then he would preach to them, advise them and give them orders, (i.e. Khutba). And after that if he wished to send an army for an expedition, he would do so; or if he wanted to give and order, he would do so, and then depart. The people followed this tradition till I went out with Marwan, the Governor of Medina, for the prayer of Id-ul-Adha or Id-ul-Fitr. When we reached the Musalla, there was a pulpit made by Kathir bin As-Salt. Marwan wanted to get up on that pulpit before the prayer. I got hold of his clothes but he pulled them and ascended the pulpit and delivered the Khutba before the prayer. I said to him, “By Allah, you have changed (the Prophet’s tradition).” He replied, “O Abu Sa’id! Gone is that which you know.” I said, “By Allah! What I know is better than what I do not know.” Marwan said, “People do not sit to listen to our Khutba after the prayer, so I delivered the Khutba before the prayer.”

CHAPTER 5. Walking and riding for the ‘Eid prayer and As-Salât (the prayer) should be offered before delivering the Khutba (religious talk) (and there is no Adhdn or Iqâma for it).

2:78 Narrated by Ibn Juraij

‘Ata’ said, “Jabir bin ‘Abdullah said, ‘The Prophet went out on the Day of ‘Id-ul-Fitr and offered the prayer before delivering the Khutba, Ata told me that during the early days of IbnAz-Zubair, Ibn Abbas had sent a message to him telling him that the Adhan for the ‘Id Prayer was never pronounced (in the life time of Allah’s Apostle) and the Khutba used to be delivered after the prayer. Ata told me that Ibn Abbas and Jabir bin ‘Abdullah, had said,

CHAPTER 6. The Khutba (religious talk) (should be delivered) after the ‘Eid prayer.

2:79 Narrated by Ibn Abbas

I offered the ‘Id prayer with Allah’s Apostle, Abu Bakr, Umar and ‘Uthman and all of them offered the prayer before delivering the Khutba.

CHAPTER 7. Superiority of doing good deeds on the days of Tashriq (11th, 12th & 13th of Dhul-Hijja).

2:86 Narrated by Ibn Abbas

The Prophet said, “No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhul Hijja).” Then some companions of the Prophet said, “Not even Jihad?” He replied, “Not even Jihad, except that of a man who does it by putting himself and his property in danger (for Allah’s sake) and does not return with any of those things.”

CHAPTER 8. To say TakbIr on the days of Mina and while proceeding to ‘Arafat.

2:87 Narrated by Muhammad bin Abi Bakr Al-Thaqafi

While we were going from Mina to ‘Arafat, I asked Anas bin Malik, about Talbiya, “How did you use to say Talbiya in the company of the Prophet?” Anas said: “People used to say Talbiya and their saying was not objected to and they used to say Takbir and that was not objected to either. “

CHAPTER 9. An-Nahr and Adh-Dhabh (to slaughter animals) (as offerings) at the Musalla (praying
place) on the day of Nahr.

2:98 Narrated by Ibn ‘Umar

The Prophet (p.b.u.h) used to Nahr or slaughter sacrifices at the Musalla (on ‘Id-ul-Adha).

CHAPTER 10. Whoever returned (after offering the ‘Eid prayer), on the day of ‘Eid through a way different from that by which he went.

2:102 Narrated by Jabir bin ‘Abdullah

On the Day of ‘Id the Prophet used to return (after offering the ‘Id prayer) through a way different from that by which he went.

2:103 Narrated by ‘Urwa on the authority of ‘Aisha

On the days of Mina, (11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah) Abu Bakr came to her while two young girls were beating the tambourine and the Prophet was lying covered with his clothes. Abu Bakr scolded them and the Prophet uncovered his face and said to Abu Bakr, “Leave them, for these days are the days of ‘Id and the days of Mina.” ‘Aisha further said, “Once the Prophet was screening me and I was watching the display of black slaves in the Mosque and (‘Umar) scolded them. The Prophet said, ‘Leave them. O Bani Arfida! (carry on), you are safe (protected)’.”