Definition
The two legislated festivals: ‘Īd al-Fiṭr after Ramaḍān, and ‘Īd al-Aḍḥā during Ḥajj. The Prophet ﷺ replaced the two pre-Islamic festivals of Madīnah with these two.
Etymology & Root
From ع-و-د (ʿ-w-d), 'to return' — because the festival recurs (returns) annually with the same joy.
Usage in the Qur'an
Of ʿĪsā: 'O Allah, our Lord, send down upon us a table from heaven to be for us a festival (ʿīd) for the first of us and the last of us' (al-Māʾidah 5:114).
Usage in the Sunnah
'Allah has replaced them with two better days: the day of al-Fiṭr and the day of al-Aḍḥā' (Abū Dāwūd, Nasāʾī — ṣaḥīḥ). 'Adorn your ʿĪd with takbīr' (Ṭabarānī — ḥasan). The Prophet ﷺ would go to ʿĪd prayer one route and return another, eat odd dates before al-Fiṭr ʿĪd and not before al-Aḍḥā until after the prayer.
Scholarly Notes
ʿĪd prayer is wājib according to Imām Aḥmad and a strong opinion in the other madhāhib. Held in the open ground (muṣallā) preferentially, not the masjid. The takbīrāt al-zawāʾid are part of the prayer. Women — including those menstruating — are commanded to attend (Bukhārī).
Common Misconceptions
(1) That birthdays, anniversaries, mawlid, and national days are 'ʿīds' — Islām has only two. (2) That fireworks and immodest mixing are part of the celebration — these contradict its essence.
Practical Application
Take ghusl, wear your best clothes, perfume, eat dates before al-Fiṭr, walk to the muṣallā if possible, recite the takbīrāt aloud, give ʿīd greetings ('Taqabbal Allāhu minnā wa minkum'), visit family.
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