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Short Description of the Eid Prayer and the Eid Khutbah

A Short Description of the Eid Prayer and the

Eid Khutbah
From Islamic Newsletter 'As-Sunnah' Issue no: 10

Compiled by Sister Shawana A. Aziz

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “Let the free
women, the virgins, and the menstruating women attend the Eid
prayer, and witness the good and the supplications of the believers.
As for the menstruating women, they should stay away from the
Musallah (i.e.. should not participate in the prayer itself).” [Saheeh
al-Bukharee and Saheeh Muslim]

A short description of the Eid Prayer

1 - The Eid Salaah consists of two Raka'ahs. Umar (radhi allahu anhu) said:
“The traveler’s prayer is two raka'ah; the Adha prayer is two Raka'ah; and
the Jumuah prayer is two Rak'ah; this is their full length as came from the
Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam).” [(saheeh) Musnad Ahmad,
Nisa'ee, Baihaqee and others]

2 - The Eid Salaah is not preceded by the adhan (the call to announce the
prayer time) or Iqamah (the call to start prayer). Jabir bin Samurah (radhi
allahu anhu) said: “I prayed the Eid prayer with Allah's Messenger
(sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam), on more than one occasion, without adhan or
Iqamah.” [Saheeh Muslim]

3 - No Sunnah prayer may precede or follow the Eid prayer, except if it is

performed in a Masjid instead of a Musallah, in which case one must pray
two raka'hs before sitting down. Ibn Abbas (radhi allahu anhu) reported:
“The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) went out (of his house) on the
day of Fitr, prayed two raka'hs and did not pray before or after it.” [Zaad
al-Maad (2/443)]

4 - Like any other deed in Islam, the prayer must be preceded with a true
intention of worshiping Allah alone in the heart.

5 - The first raka'h (one prayer unit) is initiated with Takbeer al-ihram,
followed by the opening supplication.

6 - Then followed by seven Takbeers in the first raka'h and five more in the
second rak'ah. Aa'ishah (radhi allahu anha) said: “Allah's Messenger
(sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) would say Takbeer in both Fitr and Adha: seven
in the first and five in the second, other than the two Takbeers of Ruku

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(bowing).” [(Saheeh) - Abu Dawood (1150) and others]

7 - After the Takbeer one should recite Ta'awwuth - 'A'uthu billahi min
ash-Shaytaan ir-Rajeem' meaning “I seek refuge in Allah from the outcast
devil” and Basmallah 'Bismillah ar-Rahmaan ar-Raheem' meaning 'In the
Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.'

8 - Followed by the recitation of Soorah al-Fatihah

9 - Then, the recitation of Soorah al-Qaaf in the first raka'h and the Soorah
al-Qamar in the second - OR - Soorah al-Alaa in the first and Soorah
al-Ghashiyah in the second. Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullah) said: “Both of
these have been authentically reported from the action of the Prophet
(sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam), nothing else is authentic.” [Zaad al-Maad
(1/443)] Note: Reciting a Soorah different from the ones mentioned above
will too complete the prayer. The remainder of the prayer is performed in
the same manner as any other prayer, without any difference.

The Eid Khutbah:

The Sunnah of the Eid Khutbah is that it should be delivered after

the Eid Salaah. Ibn Abbas (radhi allahu anhu) said: “I attended the Eid with
Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam), Abu Bakr (radhi allahu
anhu) Umar (radhi allahu anhu) and Uthman (radhi allahu anahu); all of
them would pray before the Khutbah.” [Saheeh al-Bukharee]

Listening to the Eid Khutbah is not wajib, Abdullah bin as-Sa'ib

(radhi allahu anhu) reported that he attended the Eid prayer with the
Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam); and when he (sallallahu alaihi
wa-sallam) finished the prayer, he said: “We shall have a Khutbah; so let
whoever wishes to sit for the Khutbah do so, and whoever wishes to
leave, may leave.” [(saheeh) Abu Dawood)]

If the Eid falls on a Friday, it becomes optional for men to attend the
Jumu'ah prayer. Abu Hurayrah (radhi allahu anhu) reported that on such
occurrence, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “Two
Eids have coincided on this day of yours; thus whoever wishes, is
exempted from attending the Jumu'ah prayer. Yet, we shall hold it.”
[Authenticated by Shaikh al-Albanee in Irwa ul-Ghalil]

It should be noted that if one does not attend the Jumu’ah prayer, then
it becomes obligatory on him to offer the Dhuhr prayer.

Eid celebrations are religious occasions, but the joy that occurs
on the Eid, has made many people forget or become negligent
of the Deen and Islamic regulations. Whilst enjoying and
celebrating this great day of Eid one should avoid celebrating
the Eid in a way similar to the Kuffar, who overstep Allah's
boundaries when they rejoice. They indulge in various acts of
disobedience, such as mingling of men and women, wearing

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improper clothes, dancing, listening to music, drinking alcohol

etc. Also, Muslims must avoid performing unjustified practices
and Bid'ahs, like spending the night preceding the Eid in
extended worship, visiting the graves etc. Finally, We ask Allah
to give us the correct understanding of His Deen and make all
our worships sincerely for His Face. Ameen!

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