Celebrations In Islaam
Recommended Acts On Eid Days

Beautifying Oneself
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It is also recommended to dress and adorn oneself for the occasion of the `Eed. Ibn `Umar (radiAllahu `anhu) narrated:
"`Umar (radiAllahu `anhu) saw a silk cloak in the market; he took it to Allaah's Messenger saws, and said, 'O Allaah's Messenger, buy this and adorn yourself with it during the `Eed and when the delegations visit you.' Allaah's Messenger saws replied, This dress is for those who have no good share (in the Hereafter).
      After a period of time, Allaah's Messenger saws sent a cloak of silk brocade to _Umar. _Umar came to Allaah's Messenger saws with the cloak and said, 'Allaah's Messenger! You said that this dress was for those who had no good share (in the Hereafter), yet you sent it me!' Allaah's Messenger saws said, (I sent it to you) so that you may sell it or use it to fulfill your need.1 " 2

     Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (r) said:
"The evidence derived from this hadeeth is that the Prophet saws has approved of _Umar's suggestion to beautify oneself for `Eeds, and only objected to wearing that kind of garment, because it was made of silk."3

     The great scholar, as-Sindee, deduced:
"This hadeeth proves that dressing up for the `Eed days was an acceptable custom among the companions, and that the Prophet saws did not object to it, from which it is concluded that it was approved." 4

     And Ibn Qudaamah noted:
"This indicates that beautifying oneself on these occasions was common among them. Maalik said, 'I heard the people of knowledge express the desirability of perfume and beautification for every `Eed.'"5

     Furthermore, Ibn ul-Qayyim said:
"The Prophet saws would wear his best clothes to go to the `Eed prayer. He had a cloak that he wore specifically on the two `Eeds and Friday. Sometimes he wore green cloaks, other times he wore a lined red cloak6 - not solid red as some people think, but it had red lines like the Yemenite lined cloaks."7

     And Ibn Hajar said:
"Ibn Abu ad-Dunyaa and al-Bayhaqee reported, with an authentic chain of narrators, that Ibn `Umar (radiAllahu `anhu) would wear his best clothes on the two `Eeds."8

      Of the beautification for the `Eed (for men) is wearing kuhl, perfumes, and oils, and wearing a `amaamah (turban) or a koofiyyah (simple cap). As is noted by ash-Shaykh al-Albaanee in Tamaam ul-Minnah, the Muslim men should not have their head uncovered, as is customary of the Europeans.9
  1. Thus, `Umar (radiAllahu `anhu) had the choice to either give this silk to a female member of his household, or to sell it to someone who would use it in a similarly permissible manner.  - Back to text 
     
  2. Al-Bukhaaree, Muslim, Abu Daawood, an-Nasaa`ee and Ahmad.  - Back to text 
     
  3. Fat ul-Baaree 2:234.  - Back to text 
     
  4. As-Sindee's commentary on an-Nasaa`ee 3:181.  - Back to text 
     
  5. Al-Mughnee 2:228.  - Back to text 
     
  6. See as-Saheehah no. 1279 by al-Albaanee.  - Back to text 
     
  7. Zaad ul-Ma`aadd 1:441.  - Back to text 
     
  8. Fat ul-Baaree 2:439.  - Back to text 
     
  9. Qurrat ul-`Aynayni fee Ahkaam il-`Eedayni by `Aqeel al-Maqtaree.  - Back to text 
     
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