As for the textual evidence:

1. It is reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, “would perform the Eid al-Adha prayer when the sun had risen to the height of one spear, and the Eid al-Fitr prayer when it had risen to the height of two spears” (1).

2. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, wrote to Amr ibn Hazm: “Perform the Eid al-Adha prayer early, delay the Eid al-Fitr prayer, and remind the people during the sermon” (2).

As for the rational consideration: on Eid al-Fitr, people need the time to be extended so that there is sufficient opportunity to distribute Zakat al-Fitr, since the best time to give Zakat al-Fitr is on the morning of Eid before the prayer, due to the hadith of Ibn Umar: “He commanded that it be given before the people went out to the prayer” (3). It is well known that delaying the prayer gives people more time for this.

As for Eid al-Adha, what is prescribed is to hasten to offer the sacrifice, because sacrifice is among the rites of Islam. Allah has coupled it with prayer in His Book, saying:

“So pray to your Lord and sacrifice.” [al-Kawthar]

And He says:

“Say, ‘Indeed, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds.’” [al-Anam]

Therefore, offering the sacrifice early on this day is better, and this can only be achieved by performing the prayer early, since the sacrificial animal cannot be slaughtered before the prayer.

“And eating before it; the reverse applies on Eid al-Adha if one offers a sacrifice” ...........

His statement, “And eating before it; the reverse applies on Eid al-Adha if one offers a sacrifice,” means that it is recommended for a person to eat before the Eid al-Fitr prayer, following the example of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, for he, peace and blessings be upon him,