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Fatwa CenterObserving 'Eed Al-Adhha
Question
Kindly advice by urgent E-mail information in English about 'Eed al-Adhha. How it is observed. Why it is called Al-Adhha?....etc. Thank you in advance for your reply. Regards.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
A – 'Eed al-Adhha is one of three lawful festivals in Islam. The two others are 'Eed-ul-Fitr and Friday. Muslims sacrifice on this day, so it is called 'Eed Al-Adhha (i.e. 'Eed of sacrifice). On this day, Muslims should perform the 'Eed prayer as follows:
1 – According to the Sunnah, Muslims should perform this prayer in the early morning to have enough time for sacrifice.
2 – It is a Sunnah not to eat anything until one eats from his sacrificed animal if any.
3 - He should go to the place of prayer in good form, i.e. wearing his best clothes and wearing some perfume.
4 – One should spend more generously on his family and also give to the poor.
5 – It is a Sunnah to return home from the prayer by a route other than the one by which he has come. Al-Bukhari and Muslim 
narrated that the Prophet used to return from the 'Eed prayer by a route other than the one he came by.
6- The sacrifice should be done after performing the prayer.
7 - It is preferable to utter the Takbeer during the days of 'Eed. There are two kinds of Takbeer:
* The Mutlaq Takbeer (not restricted to specific times): This Takbeer is not bound to be done at a specific time. It starts from the first day of Thul Hijjah until the Khutbah of 'Eed. Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated that Ibn ‘Umar, and Abu Hurayrah 
used to go to the market during the first ten days of Thul Hijjah and utter the Takbeer: “Allaahu Akbar…..”, and people used to follow them in this Takbeer, initiating what they said.
* The Muqayyad Takbeer (restricted to specific times): This Takbeer is recited after the prescribed prayers starting from the Fajr prayer on ‘Arafah Day (ninth day of Thul Hijjah) till the ‘Asr prayer of the third day of Tashreeq after the 'Eed day (i.e. the 13th day of Thul Hijjah). This ruling is specific for Muslims who are not performing Hajj. In fact, it is preferable to keep on saying the Takbeer all along those days. As for pilgrims, this Takbeer starts from Thuhr prayer on the Day of sacrifice (10th of Thul Hijjah) until the 13th day of Thul Hijjah.
Allah Knows best.
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