EID PRAYER DESCRIBED
Timing of Prayer
Abdullah bin Busr said, ‘We used to finish Eid prayer at the time of Tasbeeh.’ (saheeh of bukhaari)
Eid Al Fitr prayer can be performed anytime between sunrise and Dhuhr. The scholars of hadeeth have explained the meaning of Tasbeeh in the above hadeeth to mean Duhaa or forenoon. However it is preferable to perfrom the prayer during the early forenoon period.
The Call to Prayer
Narrated Ibn Abbaas, ‘There was no Adhaan for Salaat of Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adhaa.’ (saheeh of bukhaari; saheeh of muslim)
There is no Adhaan to denote the call for Eid Prayer. Instead the people gather at the Musalla (place of prayer) early during the day and wait for the Imaam.
Narrated Ibn Abbaas, ‘The Prophet offered Eid prayer without an Adhaan or Iqaamah.’ (sunan of abu dawood)
Similarly there is no Iqaamah for the prayer when the Imaam arrives.
Narrated Abu Sa’id Al Khudri, ‘The Prophet used to proceed to the Musalla on the days of Eid al Fitr and Eid Al Adhaa; the first thing he began with was the salaat.’ (saheeh of bukhaari; saheeh of muslim)
Instead, when the Imaam arrives at the Musalla, he proceeds directly with leading the people in prayer. His standing for prayer marks the time when prayer becomes due.
Place of Prayer
Narrated Abdur rahman bin Aabis, “Ibn Abbaas was asked whether he had joined the Prophet in Eid prayer. He said, ‘Yes. And I could not have joined him had I not been young. He came out til he reached the mark which was near the house of Katheer bin As Salt and offered the prayer, (saheeh of bukhaari)
Narrated Abu Sa’eed ibn Abu Maryam, ‘The Prophet used to proceed to the Musalla on the days of Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adhaa and the first thing he began with was Salaat.’ (saheeh of bukhaari)
Narrated ibn Umar, ‘The Prophet used to proceed to the Musalla and a spear used to be carried before him, and planted in the Musalla in front of him, and he would offer Salaat facing it.’ (saheeh of bukhaari)
The Eid prayer should be performed in a large open space. In this context, the word Musalla is used to distinguish it from the Masjid.
Description of Prayer
Narrated Ibn Abbaas, ‘The Prophet offered a two Rakah prayer on the day of Eid Al Fitr’ (muwatta of maalik; saheeh of bukhaari)
The Eid prayer is a two Rakah prayer.
Narrated Amr bin Su’ayb from his father on the authority of his grandfather who narrated that the Prophet said, ‘The Takbeer in Al Fitr are seven in the first, and five in the second, and recitation after them both. (sunan of abu dawood)
in addition to the opening Takbeer, seven Takbeer (saying Allahu Akbar) are pronounced in the first Rakah and five in the second. After the takbeer Qur’aan is recited as usual for prayer.
Narrated Ubaydullah bin Abdullah, “Umar came out on the Eid day and asked Abu Waaqid what the messenger of Allah recited during Eid prayers. He replied, ‘He used to recite Surat Al Qaaf and Surat Al Qamar.’” (sunan of nasaa’ee)
Narrated Nu’maan bin Basheer, ‘The Messenger of Allah used to recite, for Eid prayers and Jumuah prayers, ‘Surat Al A’la and Surat Al Ghaasheyah.’ (sunan of nasaa’ee)
It is Sunna to recite specific surahs for the Eid prayer. Our Prophet sometimes recited Surat Al Qaaf and Surat Al Qamar. And on other occasions he recited Surat Al Alaa and Surat Al Ghaaseyah.
Narrated Ibn Abbaas, ‘The Prophet offered a two Rakah prayer on the day of Eid Al Fitr and he did not offer any prayer before it or after it’ (muwatta of maalik; saheeh of bukhaari)
It is not from the Sunna to offer additional voluntary prayers, either before or after the Eid prayer, at the Musalla.
Description of Khutbah
Narrated Ibn Abbaas, ‘I attended Eid Al Fitr with the Prophet, Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthmaan. They used to offer the prayer before the Khutbah and then they used to deliver the Khutbah afterwards.’ (saheeh of bukhaari; saheeh of muslim)
After the prayer the Imaam stands to deliver a Khutbah.
Narrated Abu Sa’id Al Khudri, ‘The Prophet used to proceed to the Musalla on the days of Eid al Fitr and Eid Al Adhaa; the first thing to begin with was the salaat, and after that he would stand in front of the people and the people would keep sitting in their rows. Then he would preach to them, advise them and give them orders.’ (saheeh of bukhaari; saheeh of muslim)
The Imaam should not stand on a pulpit, like in Jumuah prayer. Rather he stands on the ground, faces the people and delivers the Khutbah.
Narrated Abdullah bin Saaib that when the Messenger of Allah finished Eid prayer he said, ‘We shall deliver the Khutbah. He who wishes to sit for it may sit, and he who wishes to leave may leave.’ (sunan of nasaa’ee)
The Khutbah for Eid prayer is not obligatory and whoever wishes to attend can attend. So the people should not object to those who leave after the prayer for its attendance is optional.
Written by Kamillah Khan
