All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of mankind, jinn and all that exists, and peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon all his family and companions. The following is a brief about the provisions of Eid al-Fitr and Zakat al-Fitr (alms to be given associated with Eid al-Fitr). 

AMONG THE PROVISIONS OF EID AL-FITR: 

First: preparing for the Eid prayer by performing total ablution and putting on beautiful cloths

 Ibn al-Qayyim said, "It was established that with his strict pursuance of the Sunnah, ibn 'Umar used to perform total ablution on the day of al-Eid before his going out for prayers." (Zâd al-Mi'âd [the Provisions for the Promise] 1/442). It was also established that he used to put on the best of cloths for the two Eids. 

Ibn Hajar said, "Ibn Abu-Adduniya and al-Bayhaqi narrated with authentic transmission that ibn 'Umar used to wear his best garments in the two Eids." (Fath al-Bari 2/51). A lot of the scholars took these two traditions and others as evidence of the desirability of performing total ablution and to adorn oneself in the two Eids.

 

Second: it is from the Sunnah to eat an odd number of dates before going out to perform the Eid prayer,

Three, five or more than that; a person eats them in odd numbers. Anas ibn Malik narrated, "The Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, never proceeded (for the prayer) on the Day of Eid al-Fitr unless he had eaten some dates. Murja' ibn Raja' said, 'Ubaydu-Allah said to me, 'Anas narrated to me that the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, used to eat odd number of dates." [Reported by al-Bukhari] 

Third: it is from the Sunnah to say allâhu-akbar (Allah is Great) and to say it out loud, on the other hand women should say it in secret, on the day of Eid when he goes out of his house till he reaches the place of prayer: 

Abdulla ibn 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, narrated that, "He (the Prophet) used to say allâhu-akbar on the day of Eid when he goes out of his house till he reaches the place of prayer." [Authenticated by al-Albani] 

Nafi' narrated that, "On the days of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, ibn 'Umar used to say allâhu-akbar out loud till he reached the place of prayer. He did not stop saying allâhu-akbar till the Imam came (to lead the prayer)." [Authenticated by al-Albani]

 

 

 TO BE CONTINUED...