● Eid Prayer:
The prayer performed in an open field after sunrise on the occasions of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha is called “Salat al-Eidain”. It is a two-rak’ah prayer performed in congregation with loud recitation. In the first and second rak’ah, seven and five takbirs respectively are said before the recitation, as is reported in a hadith from Sayyidina Abdullah bin Amr bin As (may Allah be pleased with him). Sayyidina Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) also used to say twelve takbirs in the Eid prayer.
Imam Bayhaqi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: its chain is sahih (isnaduhu sahih).
◈ The Ruling on the Eid Prayer:
The Eid prayer is obligatory, because the Messenger of Allah ﷺ observed it continuously and at the same time ordered people to go out for it.
Umm Atiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded us to take out young women, menstruating women and virgins who sit behind curtains on Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha; however, menstruating women should keep away from the prayer (and in another narration the words are: from the Eid-gah), but they should be present at the supplication of the Muslims on that occasion. She said that I said:
“O Messenger of Allah! What if one of us does not have a veil?” He said:
“Let her sister cover her with her own veil and take her along.”
◈ Recitation in the Eids:
It is narrated from Ubaidullah bin Utbah that Abu Waqid al-Laithi (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:
That Sayyidina Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) asked me what the Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited on the day of Eid. I told him that:
(اقْتَرَبَتِ السَّاعَةُ) and (ق وَالْقُرْآنِ الْمَجِيدِ)
It is narrated from Sayyidina Nu’man bin Bashir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to recite (سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْاَعْلَى) and (هَلْ اَتٰىكَ حَدِیْثُ الْغَاشِیَةِ) in the Eids and on Friday, and when Eid and Friday coincided on one day, he would still recite these same surahs in both prayers.
◈ Rulings and Issues Regarding the Eids:
➊ After the prayer, the imam will deliver the Eid sermon.
➊ In the Eid prayer, raising the hands should be done along with the additional takbirs, because Sayyidina Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the Prophet ﷺ used to raise his hands in every rak’ah and with those takbirs which he said before bowing.
Shaykh al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) declared it sahih.
➌ Saying a supplication for the acceptance of deeds and blessings when meeting on the day of Eid is established from the early and later scholars. Accordingly, Imam Ali bin Thabit al-Jazari (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
I asked Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) about “تَقَبَّلَ اللهُ مِنَّا وَمِنْكَ“, the phrase that people say to one another on the day of Eid, and he replied:
“The people (in Madinah) have always done this, and we do not consider it wrong.”
And it is reported about Imam Makhul (may Allah have mercy on him) that when a person met him on the day of Eid, he would give him this supplication:
“بَارَكَ اللهُ فِيكَ۔”
➍ While going to the Eid-gah and upon arriving there, takbirs should be said until the imam arrives, and after returning from the Eid prayer, one should continue saying takbirs upon reaching home as well.
➎ Various wordings of the takbirs are established. The following wording is also established:
﴿الله أكبر الله أكبر لا إله إلا الله، الله أكبر الله أكبر ولله الحمد﴾
“Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, Allah is the Greatest, and all praise is for Allah.”
➏ The participation of women in the Eid-gah is obligatory, even if they are passing their days of menstruation or postnatal bleeding. Women in menstruation and postnatal bleeding should stay apart from the prayer, but they must definitely take part in the supplication, the takbirs and the sermon.
➐ It is not permissible to offer voluntary prayers in the Eid-gah before or after the Eid prayer.
➑ Eating something before going out for Eid al-Fitr is Sunnah.
➒ On the day of Eid al-Adha, eating after the Eid prayer is Sunnah. It is better to eat from the meat of the sacrifice.
Ibn Khuzaymah, Ibn Hibban, Allama al-Albani and Shu’ayb al-Arna’ut have declared it “sahih”.
➓ When Eid falls on a Friday, the one who has offered the Eid prayer is no longer obligated to attend the Friday prayer. He may offer the Zuhr prayer alone instead of the Friday prayer.
Muhaddith al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) declared it “sahih”.
⓫ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to change his route when coming and going on the day of Eid.
↰ Note:
According to the Hanafis, there are six additional takbirs: three after the takbir of commencement in the first rak’ah, and three in the second rak’ah. However, the narration from Ibn Mas’ud on which their evidence rests is severely da’if.
◈ Salat al-Istisqa (Prayer for Rain):
At a time of drought, the Salat al-Istisqa is offered to seek merciful rain.
◈ Method of the Prayer:
The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) complained to the Prophet ﷺ about the drought. He went out to the open ground on an appointed day, sat on the pulpit, gave advice and admonition, and raised his hands in supplication. Then he turned his back to the people and stood up, and turned his cloak inside out. Then he turned towards the people, came down from the pulpit, and led them in two rak’ahs of prayer.
Shaykh al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) said it is “hasan”.
◈ Rulings on the Istisqa Prayer:
➊ In the Istisqa prayer, the recitation is to be done aloud.
➋ It is also permissible to make supplication with the palms facing downward on such an occasion.
➌ Turning the cloak means that the imam turns its outer side towards its inner side, and the people also do likewise.
Shaykh al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) said it is “sahih”.
◈ Recommended Supplications for Seeking Rain:
﴿اللهم اسقنا ، اللهم اسقنا ، اللهم اسقنا﴾
“O Allah, give us drink; O Allah, give us drink; O Allah, grant us abundant water.”
﴿اللهم اسقنا غينا مغينا مريئا نافعا غير ضار ، عاجلا غير آجل﴾
Ibn Khuzaymah and al-Hakim said it is “sahih”.
“O Allah, grant us rain that is abundantly beneficial, helpful, with a good outcome, that brings greenery, is beneficial, does not cause harm, comes quickly and does not delay.”
﴿اللهم اسق عبادك ، وبهائمك ، وانشر رحمتك وأحي بلدك الميت﴾
Shaykh al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) said it is “hasan”.
“O Allah, give drink to Your servants and Your animals. Spread Your mercy and revive Your dead land.”
