How to go to Eid-ul-Adha Prayer

Bismillah.

Let’s revive a sunnah of going to Eid-ul-Adha prayer.

Summary:

1) Shower and dress up.

2) Don’t eat anything before prayer.

3) Make takbir.

4) Change your route when you return.

Step 1: Shower and Dress Up

قال ابن القيم: ( كان يلبس لهما أجمل ثيابه وكان له حلة يلبسها للعيدين والجمعة. وكان ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما يغتسل للعيدين
أخرجه ابن أبي شيبة وعبدالرزاق(3/309) بأسايد صحيحة

Ibn Qayyam said, “The Prophet [SAWS] used to wear for the two Eids the most beautiful of his clothes. And he had a robe that he used to wear for the two Eids and Jum’ah. And ibn Umar [RA] used to bathe for the two Eids.”

[This narration is in Ibn Abi Shaibaah and Abdur Razzaq and is authentic]

Step 2: Don’t Eat Before Leaving for Prayer

يسن أكل تمرات وتراً قبل الخروج إلى الصلاة في عيد الفطر لما رواه البخاري عن أنس أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كان لا يغدو يوم الفطر حتى يأكل تمرات ويأكلهن وتراً.
أما في عيد الأضحى فالسنة ألا يأكل حتى يرجع من المصلى فيأكل من أضحيته إن كان له أضحية، وذلك لما رواه الترمذي وابن ماجه وأحمد من
حديث بريدة (أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كان لا يأكل يوم الأضحى حتى يرجع). زاد أحمد: (فيأكل من أضحيته

It is sunnah to eat dates in odd numbers before leaving for the prayer of Eidul Fitr, as narrated from Bukhari from Anas [RA] that the Prophet [SAWS] used to not leave for the prayer of Eidul Fitr until he ate dates, and he ate an odd number.

As for Eidul Adha, the sunnah is to not eat until returning from the prayer and to eat from the sacrificial meat if it is available, as narrated by Tirmidhi and ibn Majah and Ahmad in the hadith from Buraidah [RA] that, “The Prophet [SAWS] used to not eat on Eidul Adha until he returned (from prayer)” and in the narration from Ahmad, “and he would eat from his sacrificial meat”.

Note: If the sacrificial meat isn’t available, then it is not a problem, insha Allah.

Step 3: Make Takbir

وجاء عن عمر رضي الله عنه: ( أنه كان يُكبّر من صلاة الغداة يوم عرفة إلى صلاة الظهر من آخر أيام التشريق )
رواه ابن أبي شيبة بسند حسن

It is narrated about Umar [RA] that he used to make Takbir from the Fajr prayer on the day of Arafah (9th of Dhul Hijjah) until the Dhuhr prayer of the last day of Tashreeq (13th of Dhul Hijjah).

[Narrated by ibn Abi Shaibah with a good chain of narration]

Note: A good handout on the forms of the takbeerat.

Step 4: Change Your Route When You Return

عن جابر قال:  كان النبي إذا كان يوم عيد خالف الطريق
رواه البخاري
أي يخرج عن طريق ويرجع عن طريق آخر

It is narrated from Jabir [RA] that on the day of Eid, the Prophet [SAWS] used to change his route (to/from the prayer).

[Narrated by Bukhari]

Explanation: He [SAWS] would go to prayer from one route and return from another route.