Eid ul Adha occurs on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah, the day on which most of the Hajj rites have been preformed and the pilgrims slaughter an animal to honour Prophet Ibrahim’s obedience to Allah (SWT).
The Qur’ān describes "Ibrahim (as) was a whole community by himself" for at that time he was the only Muslim in the whole world who was upholding the banner of Islam, while the rest of the world was upholding the banner of unbelief. As that servant of Allah performed the mission which is ordinarily carried out by a whole community, he was not one person but an institution in himself. As Allah (SWT) mentions in the Quran -
اِنَّ اِبۡرٰهِيۡمَ كَانَ اُمَّةً قَانِتًا لِّلَّهِ حَنِيۡفًاؕ وَلَمۡ يَكُ مِنَ الۡمُشۡرِكِيۡنَۙ
شَاكِرًا لِّاَنۡعُمِهِؕ اِجۡتَبٰٮهُ وَهَدٰٮهُ اِلٰى صِرَاطٍ مُّسۡتَقِيۡمٍ
“Surely Ibrahim was an example, obedient to Allah, by nature upright, and he was not of the polytheists. He was grateful for Our bounties. We chose him and guided him unto a right path. We gave him good in this world, and in the next he will most surely be among the righteous.” (Surah 16:120-121)
In a divinely inspired dream, Ibrahim (as) saw himself sacrificing his son Ismail (as). All members of Ibrahim’s family demonstrated complete trust in Allah (SWT), therefore Ibrahim (as) revealed the dream to Ismael (as). He readily agreed that his father must carry out the command of Allah (SWT). Together they went to the place of sacrifice and offered Ismael’s life to Allah (SWT). Ibrahim (as) prepared to sacrifice his beloved son. At this point the shaitaan tempted Ibrahim (as) trying to make him disobey Allah (SWT), but Ibrahim (as) resisted and drove the shaitaan away. Ibrahim (as) looked down at his son for what he believed was the last time but as the blade came close to Ismael’s neck Allah (SWT) stayed his hand and revealed that there was no need for Ibrahim (as) to continue. His sacrifice had already been fulfilled.
Giving up something big for the sake of Allah (SWT), such as the life of your child, must seem like a huge and unimaginable sacrifice. Today even going without something small, such as a cup of coffee, to donate the money to charity seems like a large sacrifice. Try to imagine how Ibrahim (as) must have felt as he held the blade above his child’s neck. In the last moment he was relieved of his duty to follow Allah’s commands. Having complete trust in Allah, knowing with certainty that Allah (SWT) knows and wants what is best for us is often difficult, but it should not be.
“…And whosoever fears God and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine….” (Quran 65:2-3)
Allah (SWT) replaced Ishmael with a sheep and it is for this reason that Muslims sacrifice an animal on the celebration of Eid ul Adha; however it is more than a celebration, it is a reminder. We are reminded of our own submission to the will of Allah (SWT). Those Muslim’s who are not making the pilgrimage and who can afford it sacrifice an animal in remembrance of Prophet Ibrahim’s test.
“Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you….” (Quran 22:37)
The act of animal sacrifice is often misunderstood. Allah (SWT) has no need for the blood or the meat; in fact Allah (SWT) has no need for any of our acts of worship. However for our own benefit Allah (SWT) commands us to turn to Him and obey Him. Allah (SWT) looks for our piety, our goodness and our charity. The animal sacrificed is usually a sheep, a goat or a cow.
This is the truth about Ibrahim (as) whom both the Jews and the Arab unbelievers claimed to follow. “And now We have inspired you with [this message]: ‘Follow the creed of Abraham, who was true in faith, and who was not one of those who associated partners with Allah.’” (Ayah 123) This means a re-establishment of the faith based on Allah’s oneness, followed by Ibrahim (as) and reiterated in the new message revealed to Muhammad (pbuh). The restrictions of the Sabbath apply to the Jews only, who differ on its details. It was neither a part of the faith of Ibrahim (as) nor sanctioned in the faith of Muhammad (pbuh) who followed Ibrahim’s footsteps. “[The observance of] the Sabbath was ordained only to those who differed about him.” (Ayah 124) Their case is left to Allah (SWT) who knows the truth about all matters: “Your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection with regard to all that on which they dispute.” (Ayah 124)
The Sunnahs that the Muslim should observe on the day of Eid are as follows:
Narrated by Abu ‘Ubaid: I was present at Eid with ‘Umar, and he started with the prayer before the khutbah. He said: The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) forbade fasting on these two days. The day of al-Fitr is the day when you break your fast, and on the day of al-Adha, eat the meat of your sacrifices. (Grade: Sahih)
حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، سَمِعَ أَبَا عُبَيْدٍ، قَالَ شَهِدْتُ الْعِيدَ مَعَ عُمَرَ فَبَدَأَ بِالصَّلَاةِ قَبْلَ الْخُطْبَةِ وَقَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ نَهَى عَنْ صِيَامِ هَذَيْنِ الْيَوْمَيْنِ أَمَّا يَوْمُ الْفِطْرِ فَفِطْرُكُمْ مِنْ صَوْمِكُمْ وَأَمَّا يَوْمُ الْأَضْحَى فَكُلُوا مِنْ لَحْمِ نُسُكِكُمْ.
Reference : Musnad Ahmad (163), Al Bukhari (1990) and Muslim (1137)
1 – Doing ghusl before going out to the prayer : It was narrated in a saheeh hadeeth in al-Muwatta’ and elsewhere that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar used to do ghusl on the day of al-Fitr before going out to the prayer-place in the morning.
2 – Adorning oneself on the occasion of Eid: Narrated `Abdullah bin `Umar:`Umar bought a silk cloak from the market, took it to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (pbuh)! Take it and adorn yourself with it during the `Id and when the delegations visit you." Allah's Messenger (pbuh) replied, "This dress is for those who have no share (in the Hereafter)." After a long period Allah's Messenger (pbuh) sent to `Umar a cloak of silk brocade. `Umar came to Allah's Messenger (pbuh) with the cloak and said, "O Allah's Messenger (pbuh)! You said that this dress was for those who had no share (in the Hereafter); yet you have sent me this cloak." Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said to him, "Sell it and fulfill your needs by it." Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 948; Book 13, Hadith 1; Vol. 2, Book 15, Hadith 69
It was narrated that Jabir (ra) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had a cloak which he would wear on the two Eids and on Fridays. (Saheeh Ibn Khuzaymah, 1756)
3 – Takbeer on the day of Eid: This is one of the greatest Sunnahs on the day of Eid because Allah says in the Quran - “(He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allah [i.e. to say Takbeer (Allahu Akbar: Allah is the Most Great)] for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him” (Surah 2:185)
4 – Going to the prayer by one route and returning by another : Abu Hurairah narrated: "When Allah's Messenger would go out on the day of Eid by one route, he would return by another." (Grade: Sahih) Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 541
5 – Eating before after the prayer on Eid al-Adha : on Eid al-Adha it is mustahabb not to eat anything until one comes back from the prayer, so he should eat from the udhiyah if he has offered a sacrifice. If he is not going to offer a sacrifice there is nothing wrong with eating before the prayer.
6 – Offering congratulations : It was narrated that Jubayr ibn Nufayr said: When the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) met one another on the day of Eid, they would say to one another, “May Allaah accept (good deeds) from us and from you.” Ibn Hajar said, its isnaad is hasan. Al-Fath, 2/446.
It was narrated from ‘Aishah that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said the Takbir seven and five times in (the prayer for ‘Eid) Fitr and Adha, apart from the Takbir for Ruku’ (bowing). (Grade: Hasan)
حَدَّثَنَا حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي ابْنُ لَهِيعَةَ، عَنْ خَالِدِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، وَعُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ كَبَّرَ فِي الْفِطْرِ وَالأَضْحَى سَبْعًا وَخَمْسًا سِوَى تَكْبِيرَتَىِ الرُّكُوعِ .
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1280; Book 5, Hadith 478; Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1280
Rest Allah (SWT) knows best.
Source: Quran, Hadith, In the shade of the Quran, Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Islam QA