Introduction: More Than Just a Celebration

Among the most beautiful aspects of Islam is that even our festivities are an act of worship.
We celebrate, rejoice, and feast (of course with moderation) all the while earning the pleasure of Allah (ﷻ).

However, for every matter in our faith, there are etiquettes and Eid al-Ad'ha is no different. It is the greatest and most noble of days in the year in the sight of Allah (ﷻ) and stands as a powerful reminder of submission, sacrifice, and connection with Allah (ﷻ).

Many of us are familiar with the outward expressions of joy, however, few pause to reflect on the rich Prophetic legacy behind this day. In this short post, we’ll explore the deeper meaning of Eid al-Ad'ha, how to honour it as the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) did, and how to avoid common pitfalls that may diminish its value and rewards.

1. What Is Eid al-Ad'ha?

The word Eid means "festival" or "recurring happiness." In Islam, there are two major Eids: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Ad'ha. The latter—also known as the Festival of Sacrifice—falls on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah, following the completion of the major Hajj rites.

Eid al-Ad'ha commemorates the profound moment when Prophet Ibrahim (عليه السلام) submitted to Allah’s command to sacrifice his son Isma’il (عليه السلام). Just before the sacrifice could take place, Allah (ﷻ) intervened and replaced Isma’il with a ram (Surah As-Saffat 37:102-107). This day symbolises complete obedience and reliance upon Allah.

As the Prophet ﷺ said:

"The day of Arafah, the day of sacrifice, and the days of Tashreeq are our festival, the people of Islam, and they are days of eating and drinking." (Sunan al-Tirmidhi 773, Sahih)

‍

2. Virtues of Eid al-Ad'ha

Eid al-Ad'ha is not just a cultural celebration as many have come to believe — it is a deeply spiritual occasion. As such it is essential that we understand its virtues and etiquettes:

Some of its virtues include:

• A Day of Worship and Gratitude: It falls just after the Day of Arafah, a day when countless believers are freed from the Hellfire. For those not on Hajj, Eid al-Ad'ha remains a culmination of the ten most blessed days of the year (Dhul-Hijjah), as such we must not neglect the remembrance of Allah, avoiding sin and striving to do good on this day.

As the Prophet (ﷺ) informed us: "There are no days on which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days." (Sahih al-Bukhari 969)

Ibn Hajar said: "And what appears to be the reason for the distinction of the ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah is the gathering together of the main forms of worship in them, which are: prayer, fasting, charity, and pilgrimage — something that does not occur in any other time."

• The Greatest Day in the Sight of Allah: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “The greatest day in the sight of Allah, may He be blessed and exalted, is the Day of Sacrifice . . .” (Abu Dawud; Saheeh al-Jaami‘, 1064). He also described it as the greatest day of Hajj (al-Tirmidhi; Saheeh al-Jaami‘, 8191).
  
  This is because it combines multiple great acts of worship in a single day—such as the Eid prayer, the performance of Hajj, sacrifice, takbeeraat (plural of Takbeer: saying Allahu Akbar), and other important remembrance of Allah. For pilgrims, it includes rituals like stoning the Jamarat, shaving the head, and performing Tawaf and Sa‘i.
  
  

• A Day of Sacrifice: The Ud’hiyah (sacrifice) is a sunnah of our father Ibrahim (عليه السلام), and reviving it brings immense reward.

"For every hair of the Qurbani animal you receive a reward from Allah." (Ibn Majah 3127, Hasan)

The Prophet ﷺ also said: “The son of Adam does not do any action on the Day of Sacrifice which is more beloved to Allah than shedding blood (of the sacrificial animal). It will come on the Day of Resurrection with its horns, hair, and hooves. The blood reaches Allah before it reaches the ground, so be pleased with it.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi 1493, Hasan) (عليه السلام), and reviving it brings immense reward.

• A Time of Communal Unity: It brings families and communities together in prayer, charity, and reflection on the mercy of Allah (ﷻ).

‍

3. Etiquettes of Eid al-Ad'ha

The Prophet (ﷺ) guided us in all matters of of our faith and the celebration of Eid is no different. Here are some key etiquettes to uphold:

• Ghusl (Ritual Bath): It is Sunnah to perform ghusl before heading out to the Eid prayer. (Ibn Qudamah, Al-Mughni 2/370)

Al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) stated that the scholars unanimously agreed it is recommended to perform ghusl before the Eid prayer. 

This recommendation stems from the same reasoning as performing ghusl before Jumu’ah and other public gatherings — e.g. to appear clean and dignified and not to harm others with unpleasant smells from one's body — as such, it is even more encouraged on Eid due to the special nature and joy of the day.

• Wear Your Best Clothes: While there is no requirement for new clothing, wearing your best garments reflects the celebratory nature of the day. (Ibn Hajar, Fath al-Bari)
• Avoid Eating Before the Eid Prayer (for Eid al-Ad'ha): Unlike Eid al-Fitr, the Prophet ﷺ would delay eating until after the sacrifice. (Ibn Majah 1756)
• Attend the Eid Prayer: The Eid prayer is a communal obligation (Fard Kifayah) according to many scholars, and it was consistently observed by the Prophet ﷺ. (Sahih al-Bukhari 956)
• Take Different Routes: The Prophet ﷺ would go to the Eid prayer using one route and return using another. (Sahih al-Bukhari 986)
• Perform the Ud’hiyah: If financially able, offer the Qurban as an act of devotion. The Prophet ﷺ personally offered sacrifices each year (Sahih Muslim 1966), and reminded us that it is the most virtuous act on the day of Eid - so don't miss out on its reward.
• Recite the Takbeer: Starting from Fajr on the Day of Arafah (9th Dhul-Hijjah) to Asr on the 13th, the takbeer is recited:
  "Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, la ilaha illa Allah, Allahu Akbar wa lillahil hamd."

اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ، اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلِلّٰهِ الْحَمْدُ

‍

4. Important Notes for Those Performing the Qurban/Ud’hiyah

1. Eat from your sacrifice first (if possible): It is mustahabb (recommended) for the one offering the sacrifice to refrain from eating anything on the day of Eid until he eats from his sacrifice. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Let every man eat from his sacrifice.” (Saheeh al-Jaami’, 5349)
2. Slaughter it yourself or be present: It is better to slaughter the sacrifice oneself. If unable, one should at least be present at the time of slaughter.
3. Distribute it in three portions: It has been recommended the meat is divided into three parts: one third for personal consumption, one third as gifts, and one third for charity. This was the view of Ibn Mas’ood and Ibn ‘Umar (رضي الله عنهما).
4. Do not sell any part of it: It is not permissible to sell the meat, fat, or skin. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever sells the skin of his ud’hiyah, there is no ud’hiyah for him.” (Saheeh al-Jaami’, 6118)
5. Do not pay the butcher with it: The butcher should not be given any part of the sacrifice as compensation. ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded me to take care of the sacrifice and to give its meat, skin and covering in charity, and not to give anything of it to the butcher as payment.” He may be given a portion as a gift—but not as part of his wage.
6. Giving to non-Muslims: It is permissible to give a portion of the meat to a Kaafir, especially if they are poor, relatives, or neighbors—or to soften their hearts toward Islam. (Fatawa of Shaykh Ibn Baz)

‍

5. Common Mistakes on Eid al-Ad'ha

Even on a day of worship, it is possible to fall into error. Some common mistakes include:

• Neglecting the Eid Prayer: Skipping the Eid prayer without a valid excuse diminishes the reward and meaning of the day.
• Neglecting or Missing the Five Daily Prayers: The celebration of Eid does not excuse negligence in obligatory acts. Allah says: "Verily, the prayer is enjoined on the believers at fixed times." (Surah An-Nisa 4:103).

Unnecessarily delaying the prayer is a major sin and skipping the prayer without a valid reason, can take a person out of the fold of Islam based on the predominant opinion of the scholars.

• Delaying or Skipping the Sacrifice: For those with the means, avoiding the Ud’hiyah without a reason is not in line with Prophetic practice.
• Treating Eid as Merely a Social Event: While gathering with family is encouraged, Eid should not lose its connection to the remembrance of Allah (ﷻ).
• Wasteful Spending and Extravagance: Islam promotes celebration within limits. Overindulgence in food, clothing, or decoration contradicts the spirit of Eid.
  Allah (ﷻ) says: "Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and ever has Satan been to his Lord ungrateful." (Surah Al-Isra 17:27)

This ayah reminds us that extravagance is not only discouraged but links one to the traits of Shayṭān. We should instead embody gratitude, moderation, and generosity on this blessed day.

• Ignoring the Poor: Eid is also about giving. Failing to share meat or support the needy neglects the communal aspect of the sacrifice.
• Showing Off: Doing good deeds or displaying wealth for the sake of being seen by others contradicts the sincerity Allah (ﷻ) requires. The Prophet ﷺ warned: "The thing I fear most for you is minor shirk: showing off." (Musnad Ahmad 23119, Sahih)
• Free Mixing and Listening to Music: The Prophet ﷺ said, “There will be among my Ummah people who will regard as permissible illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk, the drinking of alcoholic drinks, and the use of musical instruments...... Then Allah will destroy them during the night and will cause the mountain to fall on them, and He will transform others into monkeys and pigs until the Day of Resurrection.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 5590)
• Women Wearing Adornments or Perfume Publicly: Women should avoid adorning themselves or wearing perfume when going out for ‘Eid. Allah (ﷻ) says: "And do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance." (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:33). The Prophet ﷺ also said: "Any woman who puts on perfume and passes by people so that they can smell her fragrance is an adulteress." (Sunan al-Nasa’i 5126, Sahih)

‍

Conclusion: Eid, the Prophetic Way

Eid al-Ad'ha is not just about festivities—it is about reviving the Prophetic tradition of obedience, humility, and gratitude. By remembering the spirit of sacrifice, adorning ourselves with good character, and celebrating within the framework of the Sunnah, we give Eid its rightful place in our hearts and homes.

🕌 Want to learn more? Explore authentic Islamic knowledge, audiobooks, and eBooks on True Ilm and elevate your Eid with purpose and understanding.

📲 Download the True Ilm app today: www.trueilm.com

‍