The Sunnah of Rasulullaah on Eid ul Fitr

1. He (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) made celebrating any other holiday other than the two Eids haraam.
2. He (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) would eat an odd number of dates before proceeding to the Eid prayer.
3. He (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) gave the Khutba on Eid after the prayer and not before it.
4. He (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) ordered that the women come out for Eid prayer, even if they are menstruating, but menstruating women have to keep away from the musalla.
5. He (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) would return from the Eid prayer from a different way that he went.
1. Rasulullaah (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) made celebrating any other holiday other than the two Eids haraam.
As it comes in the authentic hadeeth when Rasulullaah (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) saw the Ansaar celebrating a certain day. He inquired about that and was informed: “This is one of two days that we used to celebrate in Jaahiliyyah (pre-Islaamic ignorance) and we continue to do so.” Rasulullaah (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) replied: “Nay! Allaah has substituted for you two better days: the day of al-Fitr and the day of al-Adhhaa.” [Authentic; narrated by Ahmad, an-Nasaaee, and others]
2. Rasulullaah (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) would never proceed to Eid prayer unless he had eaten some dates and he used to eat an odd number as comes in the hadeeth reported in Bukhari Volume 2, Book 15, Number 73, in which Anas bin Malik narrated, “Rasulullaah (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) never proceeded (for the prayer) on the Day of Eid ul Fitr unless he had eaten some dates. He used to eat odd number of dates.”
3. Rasulullaah (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) would give the Khutba after the Eid prayer not before it. This occurs in many authentic hadeeth. From them are the hadeeth reported in Bukhari. Ibn Umar narrated that, “Rasulullaah (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم), Abu Bakr and Umar used to offer the Eid prayers before delivering the Khutba.” (Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 15, number 79) In another narration also found in Bukhari, Ibn Abbas narrated, “I (in my boyhood) went out with Rasulullaah (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) on the day of Eid ul Fitr, or Eid Ul Adha. Rasulullaah (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) prayed and then delivered the Khutba and then went towards the women, preached them and ordered them to give alms.” (Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 15, number 92).
4. Rasulullaah (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) ordered that every women come out for the Eid prayer. Even the menstruating women were ordered to come out, but they are to stay away from the musalla. This occurs in many authentic hadeeth. From them are the following:

Bukhari Volume 2, Book 15, Number 8: Narrated Um ‘Atiya:
“We used to be ordered to come out on the Day of Eid and even bring out the virgin girls from their houses and menstruating women so that they might stand behind the men and say Takbir along with them and invoke Allah along with them and hope for the blessings of that day and for purification from sins.”

Bukhari Volume 2, Book 15, Number 91: Narrated Muhammad:
Um ‘Atiyya said: “Rasulullaah (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) ordered us to come out (on Eid day) with the mature girls and the virgins staying in seclusion.” Hafsa narrated the same hadeeth and added, “The mature girls or virgins staying in seclusion but the menstruating women had to keep away from the Musalla.”

5. Rasulullaah (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) would return from the Eid prayer through a different route that he came. In Bukhari, Jabir bin Abdullah narrated, “On the Day of Eid rasulullaah (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) used to return (after offering the ‘Eid prayer) through a way different from that by which he went.”