such as the birth of a nation or its decline, the appointment or crowning of a ruler, his marriage, or the beginning of a season like spring, and so on. As to Muslims, their festivals ('Eeds) are associated with their religious rituals.  They have only two festivals or 'Eeds:  'Eed Al-Fitr (Celebration of the end of Ramadhaan) and 'Eed Al-Adha (festival of sacrifice). 

When the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, came to Madeenah and found the people celebrating two days he,allallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said:  “What are these occasions”?  They said: “We used to celebrate them in Jaahiliyya (before the coming of Islam)”.  He, allallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, then said : “Allaah has replaced them for you with the two better days (i.e. 'Eed Al Fitr and 'Eed Al-Adha)”.  These two festivals which Allaah prescribed to the Muslims are part of the rituals of Islam which should be commemorated and the purposes of which should be understood.

Rules Pertaining to 'Eed:

1.  It is forbidden to fast on the day of both 'Eeds, as it is understood from the hadeeth narrated by Abee Sa’eed that the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, forbade the fasting of the two 'Eeds.

2.   It is recommended that both men and women observe 'Eed prayer in an open field as is clear in the hadeeth narrated by Um Atiya, may Allaah be please with her, who said:  “We used to be ordered to come out on the day of 'Eed and even to bring the virgin girls from their houses and menstruating women so that they might stand behind the men and say takbir along with them and hope for the blessings of that day for purification from sins”.  Since menstruating women as well as those who are virgin are commanded to observe 'Eed prayer, there is no doubt that the men, old and young are even strongly commanded to observe it.

3.  'Eed prayer should be performed before the khutba of 'Eed as is confirmed in the hadeeth narrated by Ibn Amr, Abee Sa’eed, and Ibn Abbas, may Allaah be pleased with them.

4.   It is recommended that the Imaam makes Takbeer (Allaahu Akbar) during the prayer, seven times in the first Raka’at and five in the second.  This has been confirmed by the companions of the Salaf (our righteous predecessors).

5.   It is recommended that the Imaam recites in the first Raka’at Soorah Al-A'alaa (chapter 87) and Soorah Al-'Ghaashiah (chapter 88) in the second.  Other reports also show that the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, used to recite Soorah  Qaaf (chapter 50) and Soorah Al-Qamar (chapter 54) as is confirmed in Saheeh Muslim.

6.  There is no Sunnah prayer either before or after 'Eed prayer as Ibn Abbas, may Allaah,  be pleased with him, narrated that whenever the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, went for 'Eed prayer, he used to pray two Raka’at (of 'Eed) but nothing before or after them.