Eating something before the sacrifice

Question

Question: What is the ruling on taking tea, betel, bread and the like before the sacrifice? Some people say that one should not eat anything. Does this ruling apply only to the person in whose name the sacrifice is to be made, or does the same ruling apply to the general public as well? Fasting on the two Eids is haram, so why then is eating and drinking anything before the sacrifice prohibited on Eid al-Adha?

Answer

On this day everyone is a guest of Allah Most High, therefore it is mustahabb that each person first eat from the feast, that is, from the sacrifice, and not eat or drink anything before it — hookah, betel, tea and the like. This was the practice of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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