Sunnah Recitation in Eid Prayer
Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
The method of recitation (Qirāʾah) during the Eid prayers has been preserved through authentic reports from the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ, demonstrating what the Prophet ﷺ would recite during these blessed occasions.
➊ Narrated by al-Nuʿmān ibn Bashīr (رضي الله عنه):
“The Prophet ﷺ used to recite Sabbih isma rabbika al-aʿlā and Hal atāka ḥadīthu al-ghāshiyah during the Eid prayers.”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 878, Abū Dāwūd: 1122, al-Tirmidhī: 533, al-Nasāʾī: 1424
✔ This proves the Sunnah of reciting Sūrah al-Aʿlā in the first rakʿah and Sūrah al-Ghāshiyah in the second.
➋ Narrated by Abū Wāqid al-Laythī (رضي الله عنه):
“The Prophet ﷺ used to recite Qāf. Wa-l-Qurʾān al-Majīd and Iqtarabat al-Sāʿah in the Eid prayers.”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 891, al-Muwaṭṭaʾ: 1/180, Aḥmad: 5/217, Abū Dāwūd: 1154, al-Tirmidhī: 532, al-Nasāʾī: 3/183, Ibn Mājah: 1282
✔ This also shows that on occasion, the Prophet ﷺ recited Sūrah Qāf in the first rakʿah and Sūrah al-Qamar in the second rakʿah during Eid prayers.
➤ Reciting in Eid prayer either:
➤ These choices are Sunnah, not obligatory, but following them aligns with the practice of the Prophet ﷺ.
Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
❖ Qur’anic Recitation in Eid Prayer
The method of recitation (Qirāʾah) during the Eid prayers has been preserved through authentic reports from the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ, demonstrating what the Prophet ﷺ would recite during these blessed occasions.
✦ Evidences from the Sunnah:
➊ Narrated by al-Nuʿmān ibn Bashīr (رضي الله عنه):
“The Prophet ﷺ used to recite Sabbih isma rabbika al-aʿlā and Hal atāka ḥadīthu al-ghāshiyah during the Eid prayers.”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 878, Abū Dāwūd: 1122, al-Tirmidhī: 533, al-Nasāʾī: 1424✔ This proves the Sunnah of reciting Sūrah al-Aʿlā in the first rakʿah and Sūrah al-Ghāshiyah in the second.
➋ Narrated by Abū Wāqid al-Laythī (رضي الله عنه):
“The Prophet ﷺ used to recite Qāf. Wa-l-Qurʾān al-Majīd and Iqtarabat al-Sāʿah in the Eid prayers.”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 891, al-Muwaṭṭaʾ: 1/180, Aḥmad: 5/217, Abū Dāwūd: 1154, al-Tirmidhī: 532, al-Nasāʾī: 3/183, Ibn Mājah: 1282✔ This also shows that on occasion, the Prophet ﷺ recited Sūrah Qāf in the first rakʿah and Sūrah al-Qamar in the second rakʿah during Eid prayers.
Summary of Sunnah Practices
➤ Reciting in Eid prayer either:
- Sūrah al-Aʿlā (87) in the first rakʿah and Sūrah al-Ghāshiyah (88) in the second
OR - Sūrah Qāf (50) in the first rakʿah and Sūrah al-Qamar (54) in the second
➤ These choices are Sunnah, not obligatory, but following them aligns with the practice of the Prophet ﷺ.
