The Two Festivals (Eids) - Sahih al-Bukhari 951

I heard the Prophet (p.b.u.h) delivering a Khutba saying, "The first thing to be done on this day (first day of `Id ul Adha) is to pray; and after returning from the prayer we slaughter our sacrifices (in the name of Allah) and whoever does so, he acted according to our Sunna (traditions)."

Commentary on the Order of Prayer and Sacrifice

This hadith establishes the proper sequence of acts on Eid al-Adha: the Eid prayer must precede the sacrificial slaughter. This order is a fundamental Sunnah that distinguishes our practice from pre-Islamic customs where sacrifice sometimes preceded worship.

The phrase "first thing to be done" emphasizes the priority and importance of beginning the day with congregational prayer, demonstrating that acts of direct worship to Allah take precedence over other rituals, even the noble act of sacrifice.

The Significance of Following the Prophetic Example

When the Prophet states "whoever does so, he acted according to our Sunna," he establishes that following this sequence is not merely preferred but constitutes following the Prophetic tradition itself. This gives the practice religious merit beyond the mere performance of the acts.

The sacrifice mentioned refers to the udhiyah (Eid sacrifice) performed by those who are able, as an act of gratitude and remembrance of Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail for Allah's sake.

Practical Implementation

Muslims should attend the Eid prayer congregation first, then proceed to slaughter their sacrifices. This applies to the first day of Eid al-Adha and the two following days (the days of tashreeq).

The timing for sacrifice begins immediately after the Eid prayer concludes and extends until sunset on the third day of Tashreeq. Performing the sacrifice before the Eid prayer is invalid and does not count as the Eid sacrifice.