Adapted from the book "Ṣalāh al-Muslim" by Alfat Ḥusayn
✿ No Nafl Prayers Before or After:
Do not perform voluntary prayers before or after the Eid prayer in the Eid ground.
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)
While proceeding to the Eid ground and before the sermon begins, recite the Takbīr and Ḥamd loudly:
اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ، وَاللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلِلّٰهِ الْحَمْدُ
Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest. There is no true god but Allah. Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, and to Allah belongs all praise.
Also:
اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرًا، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ كَثِيرًا، وَسُبْحَانَ اللّٰهِ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا
(Declared authentic by Shaykh al-Albānī)
✿ In the first rakʿah, after the opening supplication (Duʿāʾ al-Istiftāḥ), say seven Takbīrs with raising of the hands at each Takbīr.
(Abū Dāwūd)
✿ In the second rakʿah, say five Takbīrs before reciting.
(Abū Dāwūd – Kitāb al-Jumuʿah, 149)
The Prophet ﷺ would recite the following in Eid prayers:
Sūrah Qāf (ق والقرآن المجيد) and Sūrah al-Qamar (اقتربت الساعة وانشق القمر)
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
Barā’ ibn ʿĀzib رضي الله عنه narrated:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Whoever offers the sacrifice before performing the Eid prayer, it is merely meat for his family—not a valid sacrifice. But whoever offers it after the prayer, that is a proper sacrifice.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī – Kitāb al-ʿĪdayn)
For Eid al-Fiṭr, it is obligatory to give Ṣadaqat al-Fiṭr before leaving for the Eid prayer.
The prayer should be performed shortly after sunrise during Ishrāq time. Delaying it excessively is not correct.
✿ Hugging and greeting specifically after the Eid prayer is not proven from any ḥadīth. It is considered a bidʿah (innovation).
✿ Saying “Eid Mubārak” as a ritualized phrase is not found in authentic narrations. Instead, you may offer the duʿā:
تَقَبَّلَ اللهُ مِنَّا وَمِنْكُمْ صَالِحَ الأَعْمَالِ
“May Allah accept from us and from you the righteous deeds.”
(Fatḥ al-Bārī)
❖ Eid Prayer (Ṣalāh al-ʿĪdayn)
✿ No Nafl Prayers Before or After:
Do not perform voluntary prayers before or after the Eid prayer in the Eid ground.
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)
❖ Recitation of Takbīr Before the Khutbah
While proceeding to the Eid ground and before the sermon begins, recite the Takbīr and Ḥamd loudly:
اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ، وَاللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلِلّٰهِ الْحَمْدُ
Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest. There is no true god but Allah. Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, and to Allah belongs all praise.
Also:
اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرًا، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ كَثِيرًا، وَسُبْحَانَ اللّٰهِ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا
(Declared authentic by Shaykh al-Albānī)
❖ Number of Takbīrs in the Prayer
✿ In the first rakʿah, after the opening supplication (Duʿāʾ al-Istiftāḥ), say seven Takbīrs with raising of the hands at each Takbīr.
(Abū Dāwūd)
✿ In the second rakʿah, say five Takbīrs before reciting.
(Abū Dāwūd – Kitāb al-Jumuʿah, 149)
❖ Recitations in the Eid Prayer
The Prophet ﷺ would recite the following in Eid prayers:
Sūrah Qāf (ق والقرآن المجيد) and Sūrah al-Qamar (اقتربت الساعة وانشق القمر)
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
❖ Order of Sacrifice
Barā’ ibn ʿĀzib رضي الله عنه narrated:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Whoever offers the sacrifice before performing the Eid prayer, it is merely meat for his family—not a valid sacrifice. But whoever offers it after the prayer, that is a proper sacrifice.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī – Kitāb al-ʿĪdayn)
❖ Ṣadaqat al-Fiṭr Before the Prayer
For Eid al-Fiṭr, it is obligatory to give Ṣadaqat al-Fiṭr before leaving for the Eid prayer.
❖ Time for the Eid Prayer
The prayer should be performed shortly after sunrise during Ishrāq time. Delaying it excessively is not correct.
✿ Hugging and greeting specifically after the Eid prayer is not proven from any ḥadīth. It is considered a bidʿah (innovation).
✿ Saying “Eid Mubārak” as a ritualized phrase is not found in authentic narrations. Instead, you may offer the duʿā:
تَقَبَّلَ اللهُ مِنَّا وَمِنْكُمْ صَالِحَ الأَعْمَالِ
“May Allah accept from us and from you the righteous deeds.”
(Fatḥ al-Bārī)
