How to Perform Eid Prayers? Some Important Rules Regarding Eid prayers & Sermon, By Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani

Compiled By: Mufti Umar Anwar Badakhshani

On the Eid day

The following acts are prescribed as Sunnah at the beginning of the day of Eid before proceeding to the Eid prayer:

• 1. To wake up early in the morning.
• 2. To clean one’s teeth with a Miswak or brush
• 3. To have a bath.
• 4. To put on one’s best available clothes.
• 5. To use perfume.
• 6. To eat sweet food, preferably dates, before the Eid ul Fitr prayer.
• 7. Not to eat before the Eid ul Adha prayer.
• 8. To recite the Takbir of Tashriq in a loud voice while going to the Eid prayer:

الله اكبر الله اكبر لا اله الا الله والله اكبر الله اكبر ولله الحمد

The Eid Prayer

The obligation on Eid day is to perform the Eid prayer. Some rules in thi respect are mentioned hereunder:

• The Eid prayer is Wajib (obligatory) on every male Muslim.
• The Eid prayer can be performed any time between the Ishraq and Zawal.
• It is preferable that Eid prayer is performed at an open field and not in a mosque. However, if, it is difficult for any reason to perform it in an open field, it can also performed in a big mosque.
• It is not advisable to hold the Eid prayer in every mosque, rather it is preferable that the people of several small mosques either perform it in an open field or, in its absence, in a big mosque which can accommodate a large number of people.
• The Eid prayer has neither Azaan nor Iqaamah.

Nafl salah before Eid Prayers?

No Nafl salah can be performed before the Eid prayer, neither in one’s home, not at the place of Eid prayer, Similarly, Nafl prayer cannot be performed after the Eid prayer at the home place. However, it can be performed after one comes back to his home.

How to Perform Eid Prayers?

• The Eid prayer has two rakah at performed in the normal way, with the only addition of six Takbirs.
• Three of them at the beginning of the first rakah.
• And three of them just before ruku in the second rakah. The detailed way of performing the Eid prayer is as follows:
• The Imam will begin the prayer without Adhan or Iqamah.
• He will begin the prayer by reciting Takbir of Tahrimah (Allahu Akbar).
• You should raise your hands up to the ears, and reciting the Takbir,
• You should set your hands on your navel.
• The Imam will give a little pause during which you should recite Thana (Subhanakallahumma….).
• After the completion of Thana, the Imam will recite Takbir (Allahu Akbar) three times:
• At the first two calls of Takbir you should raise your hands up to the ears, and after reciting Takbir (Allahu Akbar) in a low voice, should bring your hands down and leave them earthwards.
• But, after the third Takbir, you should set them on your navel as you do in the normal prayers.
• After these three Takbirs, the Imam will recite the Holy Quran which you should listen calmly and quietly.
• The rest of the rakah will be performed in the normal way.
• After rising for the second rakah, the Imam will begin the recitations from the Holy Quran during which you should remain calm and quiet.
• When the Imam finishes his recitation, he will recite three Takbirs once again, but this time it will be just before bowing down for ruku.
• At each Takbir you should raise your hands up to the ears, and after saying “Allahu Akbar”, bring them down and leave them earthwards.
• After these three Takbirs have been called and completed, the Imam will say another Takbir for bowing down into the ruku position.
• At this Takbir you need not raise your hands. You just bow down for your ruku saying, Allahu Akbar, the rest of the salah will be performed in this usual way.

Khutbah: The Address of Eid Prayer

In this salah of Eid, Khutbah is a sunnah and is delivered after the salah, unlike the salah of jumuah where it is Fard and is delivered before the salah. However, listening to the Khutbah of Eid salah is Wajib or necessary and must be heard in perfect peace and silence.

It is a Sunnah that the imam begins the first Khutbah by reciting takbir (الله اكبر) nine times and the second Khutbah with reciting it seven times.

Shafi way of Eid Prayer

The way of Eid prayer described above is according to the Hanafi school of Muslim jurists. Some other jurists, like Imam Shafi, have some other ways to perform it. They recite Takbir twelve times before beginning the recitations of the Holy Quran in both the rakaat. This way is also permissible. If the Imam, being of the Shafi School, follows this way, you can also follow him. Both ways are based on the practice of the Holy Prophet ﷺ.