Prayer

The Eid Prayer: How to Pray It and Its Sunnahs

The two Eids, al-Fitr and al-Adha, are the festivals Allah gave this nation. Each begins with a prayer of two rak‘ahs in the morning, which the Prophet ﷺ never left and to which he ordered even women and girls to come (Sahih al-Bukhari).

Its time

The Eid prayer begins when the sun has risen about a spear’s length, roughly 15 to 20 minutes after sunrise, and lasts until just before midday. It is recommended to pray Eid al-Adha early so people can sacrifice, and Eid al-Fitr a little later so they can pay Zakat al-Fitr.

How to pray it

There is no adhan or iqamah.
First rak‘ah: after the opening takbir, say seven takbirs (six in the Hanafi school, three after the opening one), raising the hands, then recite al-Fatihah and a surah, such as al-A‘la.
Second rak‘ah: after standing, say five takbirs (three in the Hanafi school, after the recitation), then recite al-Fatihah and a surah, such as al-Ghashiyah.
After the prayer, the imam delivers the sermon.

The extra takbirs are a Sunnah: someone who forgets them or joins late simply follows the imam.

The Sunnahs of Eid

Bathing, wearing one’s best clothes and perfume (for men).
Eating an odd number of dates before Eid al-Fitr; delaying food until after the prayer on Eid al-Adha.
Saying the takbir on the way to the prayer.
Going by one route and returning by another.
Congratulating one another: “Taqabbal Allahu minna wa minkum”.
Visiting family, being generous and making children happy.

The ruling of the Eid prayer

The Eid prayer is an obligation for every individual according to the Hanafi school, a communal obligation according to the Hanbalis and a confirmed Sunnah according to the Malikis and Shafi‘is. Whoever misses it may pray two rak‘ahs alone, according to many scholars.

When Eid falls on a Friday, and the days of tashriq

If Eid falls on a Friday, the Prophet ﷺ allowed those who attended the Eid prayer not to attend the Friday prayer, while he himself led it (Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah); such people still pray Dhuhr. The Hanbali school follows this; the majority hold that the Friday prayer remains due for city dwellers.

Fasting on the two days of Eid is forbidden (al-Bukhari, Muslim), and the three days after Eid al-Adha are “days of eating, drinking and remembering Allah” (Muslim). The takbir after the prayers is said from the dawn of the day of Arafah until the afternoon of the 13th of Dhul-Hijjah, as reported from the Companions.

In brief

The Eid prayer has two rak‘ahs with extra takbirs, without adhan or iqamah.
Its time begins about fifteen minutes after sunrise.
The sermon comes after the prayer.
Ghusl, best clothes, dates before Eid al-Fitr and takbir are Sunnah.
Fasting on the two Eid days is forbidden.

Questions and answers

If Eid falls on a Friday, must I pray Jumu‘ah?

Several scholars allow those who attended the Eid prayer to pray Dhuhr instead of Jumu‘ah, while the imam still holds Jumu‘ah. Follow your local mosque.

Can women attend the Eid prayer during their period?

Yes. The Prophet ﷺ ordered that menstruating women come out to witness the good and the gathering of the believers, while staying away from the prayer place itself (al-Bukhari, Muslim).