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26 Dec 2025
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Sunnah
Sunnahs of Eid ul Fitr
The word Eid ul Fitr brings a smile to every Muslim face in the hindmost few days of the blessed month of Ramadan. Most of us are busy decorating our houses, ordering special outfits for Eid, and more. Eid ul Fitr is generally a time for family and friends to get together and celebrate after a month of abstinence from food and drink during daylight hours. Children collect Eidi from their elders and play out with their friends. People go to their relatives and friends and enjoy festive meals. Where it spreads out smiles, merriment and gaiety, there are also Sunnahs of the Prophet (Sallallahu-Alayhi wa Sallam) to be followed.
The Prophet (Sallallahu-Alayhi wa Sallam) would not sleep on the night preceding the day of Eid and would spend the whole night in worship. It is called the Night of Rewards and is considered one of the most sacred nights. He (Sallallahu-Alayhi wa Sallam) said: “There are five nights on which dua is not rejected: the first night of Rajab, the fifteenth of Shaban, Thursday night, the night preceding Eid ul Fitr, and the night preceding Eid ul Adha.”
After this blessed month, it is a golden opportunity to repent for our misdemeanours and peccadillos committed unintentionally and to ask Allah to accept our good deeds throughout the month. It is also a time to pray for our needs and desires to be fulfilled.
The Prophet (Sallallahu-Alayhi wa Sallam) would take a bath, wear new clothes, and apply attar on the day of Eid. Eating something sweet is also a Sunnah, as the Prophet (Sallallahu-Alayhi wa Sallam) would not attend the Eid ul Fitr prayer until he had eaten some dates, and he would eat them in odd numbers. He (Sallallahu-Alayhi wa Sallam) would also vary his route on the day of Eid, going to the prayer from one path and returning by another.
For most families, the celebrations of Eid ul Fitr revolve around food, with tables filled with favourite dishes. However, it is important to remember that many families around the world do not have enough food even on Eid. For this reason, Muslims are required to pay Zakat al Fitr (Fitrana) before the Eid prayer. It is obligatory upon every Muslim who possesses food beyond their basic needs.
The Prophet (Sallallahu-Alayhi wa Sallam) instructed that Zakat al Fitr should be given before the Eid prayer. It may be paid one or two days before Eid, as narrated by Bukhari: “They used to pay it one or two days before Eid ul Fitr.”
Ibn Abbas (Rz) reported: “The Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu-Alayhi wa Sallam) ordained Zakat al Fitr to purify the fasting person from indecent words and actions and to provide food for the needy. Whoever gives it before the Eid prayer, it is accepted as Zakat, and whoever gives it after the prayer, it is merely a sadaqah.” (Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah)
It is haram to delay Zakat al Fitr until after the Eid prayer without a valid excuse. If someone delays it due to a genuine reason, such as travelling or confusion within the family about who should pay, then there is no sin upon them, and it should be paid as soon as possible.
I pray to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala to grant us the ability to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (Sallallahu-Alayhi wa Sallam) in every aspect of our lives. Aameen.