The Eid prayer

"Eid" is an Arabic word referring to something habitual that returns and is repeated. Eids or festivals are symbols to be found in every nation, including those that are based on revealed scriptures and those that are idolatrous, as well as others, because celebrating festivals is something that is an instinctive part of human nature. All people like to have special occasions to celebrate, where they can come together and express their joy and happiness.

 

The Muslims have no festivals apart from Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adhaa. This is clear from the hadeeth of Anas (RA) who said:

 

"The Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu alayhi wa sallam) came to Madeenah and the people had two days when they would play and have fun. He said, 'What are these two days? 'They said, we used to play and have fun on these days during the Jaahiliyyah. The Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, 'Aflaah has given you something better than them, the day of Adhaa and the day of Fitr.'" (Abu Dawood) 

 

These two Eids are among the signs or symbols of Allaah which we must celebrate and understand the aims and meanings behind them.

 

The majority of scholars say that the time for the Eid prayer starts when the sun has risen above the height of a spear, as seen by the naked eye, and continues until the sun is approaching its zenith. It is haraam to fast on the days of Eid. Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri (RA) said that the Messenger of Allaah(salallaahu alayhi wa sallam) forbade fasting on the day of Fitr and the day of Sacrifice (Adhaa). (Muslim)

 

The Prayer consists of two complete rak'ahs, and the opening takbeer is repeated seven times in the first rak'ah and five times in the second. (Abu Dawood) If a person joining the prayer catches up with the imam during these extra takbeeraat, he should say "AIlaahu akbar" with the imaam, and he does not have to make up any takbeeraat he may have missed, because they are sunnah, not waajib.

 

With regard to what should be said between the takbeeraat, Waleed ibn 'Uqbah entered the mosque when Ibn Mas'ood, Hudhayfah and Abu Musa (RA) were there, and said, "Eid is here, what should I do?" Ibn Mas'ood (RA) said:

 

 

After reciting al-Fatiba, it is recommended to recite any of the following chapters of the Qur'an during the Eid prayers: Soorah Qaaf [Q 50] and Soorah al-Qamar. [Q54] (in the first and second rakaahs respectively), (Muslim) Others are Soorah al-::A'laa [87] and Soorah al- Ghaashiyah [88] (in the first and second rakaabs respectively) (Muslim)

 

One of the rulings of Eid is that the prayer should come before the khutbah, as is reported from Ibn 'Abbaas (RA), who testified that the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu alayhi wa sallam) prayed before the khutbah on Eid, then he gave the khutbah." (Ahmad) However, anyone who wants to leave during the khutbah is allowed to do so.

 

Nevertheless, the prayer should not be delayed for too long. Abdullaah ibn Bishr (RA) went out with the people on the day of Fitr or al-Adhaa, and objected to the fact that the Imaam came very late. He said, "At the time of the Prophet (salallaahu alayhi wa sallam) we would have finished by now," and that was at the time of al-Tasbeeh ."(Bukhaari )

 

No Naafil prayers in the prayer place: There are no naafil prayers to be done either before or after the Eid prayer. Ibn 'Abbaas (RA) reported that the Prophet (salallaahu alayhi wa sallam) used to come out on the day of Eid and pray two rak'ahs, with nothing before or after them. If, however, the people pray the Eid prayer in a mosque, then they should pray two rak'ahs for Tahiyat al-Masjid ("Greeting the mosque") before sitting down.

 

Missing Eid: If a community did not know about the sighting of the crescent of Shawwal until the next day, then it is permissible for them to congregate to pray their own Eid the next day of Eid. If an individual however misses the Eid prayer, the most correct view is that he may make it up by praying two rak'ahs. (Bukhari) Allaah knows best.

 

Umm 'Atiyah (RA) reported that the Prophet (salallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said that we should bring out the young girls and those who were secluded, or the young girls who were secluded, and the menstruating women, so that they could witness the blessings of Eid and see the gathering of the believers, but those who were menstruating were to keep away from the prayer place itself. (Bukhari)

 

Aadaab al-Eid (Etiquette of Eid) Ghusl (take a bath): Take a bath before going out to the prayer. Abdullaah ibn 'Umar (RA) used to take a bath on the day of al-Fitr before coming to the prayer-place. (Muwatta') An-Nawawi (RAH) mentioned that the scholars were agreed that it is mustahabb to take a bath before the Eid prayer.

 

Eat before coming out: One should not come out to the prayer place on Eid al-Fitr before eating something. Anas ibn Maalik (RA) said: "The Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu alayhi wa sallam) would not go out on the morning of Eid al-Fitr until he had eaten some dates and he would eat an odd number." (Bukhari)

 

Say a lot of takbeer loudly: This is one of the greatest sunnahs of this day, because of the words of Allaah:

 

 

The time for making Takbeer on Eid al-Fitr starts from the night of Eid until the time when the Imam comes in to lead the prayer. The practice of making Takbeer from home to the prayer place, and until the imaam comes in, was well known among the salaf and according to Abu 'Abd al-Rahmaan al-Salami: "On Eid al-Fitr they would say it louder than on Eid al-Adhaa." (Irwaa') The wording of the Takbeer is as follows: "AIlaahu akbar, AIlaahu akbar; laa ilaaha ill-Allaah. wa AIlaahu akbar; AIlaahu akbar wa Lillaahil-hamd (Allaah is Most Great ... there is no god but Allaah, Allaah is Most Great, and to Allaah be praise)." (Ibn Abi Shaybah) This takbeer is related from Ibn Mas'ud (RA).

 

Congratulating one another: People may exchange congratulations and good greetings on Eid, no matter what form the words take. For example they may say to one another, "Taqabbal Allaahu minnaa wa minkum (May Allaah accept [the fast and worship] from us and from you" or "Eid Mubarak" and other similar permissible greetings. Jubayr ibn Nufayr said: "At the time of the Prophet (salallaahu alayhi wa sallam), when people met one another on the day of Eid, they would say, 'Taqabbal Allaahu minnaa wa minka (May Allaah accept from us and from you).'" (Fath Baari).

 

Go out by one route and come back by another: Jaabir ibn 'Abd-Allaah (RA) reported that the Prophet (salallaahu alayhi wa sallam) used to vary his routes on the day of Eid. (Bukhaari) It was said that this was so that the two different routes would testify in his favour on the Day of Resurrection, because on that Day the earth will speak about everything that was done on it, good and evil.

 

It was also said that this was done in order to demonstrate the symbols and rituals of Islam along both routes; to pronounce the remembrance of Allaah; to meet the people's needs by giving fatwas, teaching them and setting an example for them to follow; to give charity to those in need; or to visit his relatives and uphold the ties of kinship.