Question:
How is it to perform four rak’ahs after the Eid prayer?
Answer:
It is established from some of the Salaf to perform four rak’ahs after the Eid prayer.
❀ Aswad bin Hilal al-Kufi, may Allah have mercy on him, narrates:
خَرَجْتُ مَعَ عَلِيٍّ، فَلَمَّا صَلَّى الْإِمَامُ، قَامَ فَصَلَّى بَعْدَهَا أَرْبَعًا .
“I went out with Sayyiduna Ali bin Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, for the Eid prayer. When the Imam finished the Eid prayer, Sayyiduna Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, stood up and performed four rak’ahs of Nafl.”
❀ Regarding Sayyiduna Buraidah Aslami, may Allah be pleased with him:
إِنَّهُ كَانَ يُصَلِّي يَوْمَ الْعِيدِ قَبْلَ الصَّلَاةِ أَرْبَعًا، وَبَعْدَهَا أَرْبَعًا .
“He, may Allah be pleased with him, used to perform four rak’ahs of Nafl before and after the Eid prayer.”
❀ Asim Ahwal, may Allah have mercy on him, narrates:
رَأَيْتُ الْحَسَنَ، وَابْنَ سِيرِينَ يُصَلِّيَانِ بَعْدَ الْعِيدِ وَيُطِيلَانِ الْقِيَامَ .
“I saw Hasan Basri and Muhammad bin Sirin, may Allah have mercy on them, performing Nafl prayers after the Eid prayer, in which they would stand for a long time.”
More narrations from the Salaf have also come in this regard.
Warning:
The narrations regarding two rak’ahs after returning home from Eid prayer are weak; see the commentary below:
❀ It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Saeed Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him):
كَانَ رَسُولُ اللّٰهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، لَا يُصَلِّي قَبْلَ الْعِيدِ شَيْئًا، فَإِذَا رَجَعَ إِلٰى مَنْزِلِهِ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ .
“The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) did not pray before Eid, but after returning home, he would perform two rak’ahs.”
The chain is weak. Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Aqil is “weak.”
❀ Hafiz Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
ضَعِيْفٌ عِنْدَالْأَكْثَرِيْنَ .
“It is weak according to the majority of the hadith scholars.”
❀ Hafiz Abu al-Fath Ibn Sayyid al-Nas Ya’mari (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
ضَعَّفَهُ الْأَكْثَرُ لِسُوْءِ حِفْظِهٖ .
“Due to memory weakness, most of the noble hadith scholars have said it is weak.”
❀ Hafiz Haithami (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
هُوَ ضَعِيْفٌ عِنْدَ الْأَكْثَرِيْنَ .
“It is weak according to the majority of the hadith scholars.”
❀ Hafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) said it is “weak.”
❀ Hafiz Busiri (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
هُوَ ضَعِيْفٌ، ضَعَّفَهٗ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ حَنْبَلٍ وَابْنُ مَعِينٍ وَّأَبُو حَاتِمٍ وَّعَلِيُّ بْنُ الْمَدِينِيِّ وَابْنُ خُزَيْمَةَ وَغَيْرُهُمْ .
“It is weak; Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Imam Yahya ibn Ma’in, Imam Abu Hatim Razi, Imam Ali ibn Madini, and Imam Ibn Khuzaymah (may Allah have mercy on them) and others have declared it weak.”
❀ It is narrated from Sayyiduna Salman Farsi رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: “Whoever prays four rak’ahs after the Eid al-Fitr prayer, reciting Surah Al-Fatiha and Surah Al-A’la in the first rak’ah, Surah Ash-Shams in the second, Surah Ad-Duha in the third, and Surah Al-Ikhlas in the fourth, it is as if he has recited all the books revealed by Allah Almighty, and it is as if he has fed all the orphan children until they are full, anointed them with oil, and purified them. Moreover, he will receive the reward equivalent to everything over which the sun rises, and his sins of fifty years will be forgiven.”
This is a fabricated narration.
① Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Siddiq’s reliability could not be confirmed.
② The biography of Abu Bakr Ahmad bin Ja’far Marwazi could not be found.
③ Ya’qub bin Abdul Rahman may be Abu Yusuf Jassas; regarding him:
❀ Abu Muhammad bin Ghulam Zahri, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
لَيْسَ بِالْمَرْضِيِّ .
“This is not preferred.”
❀ Khateeb Baghdadi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
فِي حَدِيْثِهٖ وَهْمٌ كَثِيْرٌ .
“There is a lot of doubt in his hadith.”
④ Regarding Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Rabi’ah Qadami, Hafiz Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
أَحَدُ الضُّعَفَاءِ، أَتٰى عَنْ مَّالِكٍ بِمَصَائِبَ .
“He is weak; he mentions troubles attributed to Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him.”
Question:
If someone forgets the extra takbirs during the standing, can he say them after rising from the bowing?
Answer:
He cannot say them; the standing is not the place for extra takbirs. Whoever forgets to say the extra takbirs should complete the deficiency at the end with the prostration of forgetfulness.
Question:
How is it to perform Eid prayer in the mosque without excuse?
Answer:
Performing Eid prayer in the mosque without excuse is not established. The Sunnah is to perform Eid in an open place outside the populated area.
Question:
The Imam said the extra takbirs but forgot to recite Surah Al-Fatiha loudly; what should he do when reminded?
Answer:
If the extra takbirs have already been said, then upon being reminded, recite Surah Al-Fatiha; do not say the takbirs again.
Question:
How many extra takbirs are there in the Eid prayers?
Answer:
There are twelve Sunnah extra takbirs in the Eid prayers: seven in the first rak’ah and five in the second rak’ah.
Question:
How is it to play the drum (naqara) for the Eid prayer?
Answer:
It is not permissible.
Question:
Is it permissible to wait for the followers (muqtadis) for the Eid prayer?
Answer:
If the attendees have no objection, then waiting for a short while is permissible.
Question:
How is it to demolish one Eidgah and use its debris on another modern Eidgah?
Answer:
It is permissible.
Question:
If there are two Eidgahs in one area and two congregations, what is the ruling?
Answer:
It is permissible.
Question:
How is it to perform Eid prayer in a building constructed by non-Muslims?
Answer:
If the place is pure, then it is permissible.
Question:
Should the takbirs in the two Eids be done while raising the hands (raf’ al-yadain)?
Answer:
Raising the hands (Raf’ al-Yadain) during the Takbeerat of the two Eids is proven from the practice of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him.
❀ Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, narrates:
كَانَ رَسُولُ اللّٰهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا قَامَ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ، حَتّٰى إِذَا كَانَتَا حَذْوَ مَنْكِبَيْهِ كَبَّرَ، ثُمَّ إِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَّرْكَعَ رَفَعَهُمَا، حَتّٰى يَكُونَا حَذْوَ مَنْكِبَيْهِ، كَبَّرَ وَهُمَا كَذٰلِكَ، فَرَكَعَ، ثُمَّ إِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَّرْفَعَ صُلْبَهٗ رَفَعَهُمَا، حَتّٰى يَكُونَا حَذْوَ مَنْكِبَيْهِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: سَمِعَ اللّٰهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهٗ، ثُمَّ يَسْجُدُ، فَلَا يَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ فِي السُّجُودِ، وَرَفَعَهُمَا فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ وَّتَكْبِيرَةٍ كَبَّرَهَا قَبْلَ الرُّكُوعِ، حَتّٰى تَنْقَضِيَ صَلَاتُهٗ .
“When the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, would stand for prayer, he would raise both hands until they reached the level of his shoulders, then he would say Allahu Akbar. Then when he intended to bow (ruku’), he would raise both hands until they reached the level of his shoulders, and in that state, he would say Allahu Akbar. Then he would bow. When he intended to raise his back from the bowing position, he would raise both hands up to the shoulders and say ‘Sami’a Allahu liman hamidah.’ Then he would prostrate, but he did not raise his hands during prostration. However, he would raise his hands at every Takbir of bowing and before every bowing, until his prayer was completed in this manner.”
From this hadith, it is proven that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, raised his hands at every Takbir said before bowing. Since the Takbeerat of the two Eids are also said before bowing, therefore raising the hands during them is proven as a Sunnah of the Prophet.
The Religion of the Imams of the Religion:
The Imams of the religion also believed in raising the hands during the Takbeerat of the two Eids.
Imam Awza’i, may Allah have mercy on him:
When Imam Abdul Rahman bin Amr Awza’i, may Allah have mercy on him (157 AH), was asked about raising the hands during the Takbeerat of the two Eids, he said:
نَعَمْ، اِرْفَعْ يَدَيْكَ مَعَ كُلِّهِنَّ .
“Yes, raise the hands with all the Takbeerat.”
Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him:
When Imam Malik bin Anas, may Allah have mercy on him (179 AH), was asked, he said:
نَعَمْ، اِرْفَعْ يَدَيْكَ مَعَ كُلِّ تَكْبِيرَةٍ، وَلَمْ أَسْمَعْ فِيهِ شَيْئًا .
“Yes, raise the hands with every Takbeer; I have not heard any disagreement about this.”
Imam Shafi’i, may Allah have mercy on him:
Imam Muhammad bin Idris Shafi’i, may Allah have mercy on him (204 AH), says:
يَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ فِي كُلِّ تَكْبِيرَةٍ عَلٰى جَنَازَةٍ خَبَرًا، وَقِيَاسًا عَلٰى أَنَّهٗ تَكْبِيرٌ وَّهُوَ قَائِمٌ، وَفِي كُلِّ تَكْبِيرِ الْعِيدَيْنِ .
“Raising the hands is done at every Takbeer of the funeral prayer and the two Eids, based on the Prophetic Hadith and also by analogy that the hands are raised at the Takbeer of standing.”
Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, may Allah have mercy on him:
The Imam of Ahl al-Sunnah, Ahmad bin Hanbal, may Allah have mercy on him (241 AH), says:
يَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ فِي كُلِّ تَكْبِيرَةٍ . “He raises the hands with every Takbeer.”
Imam Ishaq bin Rahwayh, may Allah have mercy on him:
Imam Ishaq bin Rahwayah, may Allah have mercy on him (238 AH), also holds this view.
Imam Ibn Mundhir, may Allah have mercy on him:
Imam Ibn Mundhir, may Allah have mercy on him (319 AH), states:
إِنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَمَّا بَيَّنَ رَفْعَ الْيَدَيْنِ فِي كُلِّ تَكْبِيرَةٍ يُّكَبِّرُهَا الْمَرْءُ وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ، وَكَانَتْ تَكْبِيرَاتُ الْعِيدَيْنِ وَالْجَنَائِزِ فِي مَوْضِعِ الْقِيَامِ، ثَبَتَ رَفْعُ الْيَدَيْنِ فِيهَا ……
“For this reason as well, because the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, demonstrated raising the hands at every Takbeer during standing, and the Takbeers of the two Eids and the funeral prayer are also during standing, therefore raising the hands is established in these Takbeers.”
❀ He also states:
سَنَّ رَسُولُ اللّٰهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنْ يَّرْفَعَ الْمُصَلِّي يَدَيْهِ إِذَا افْتَتَحَ الصَّلَاةَ، وَإِذَا رَكَعَ، وَإِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهٗ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ، وَكُلُّ ذٰلِكَ تَكْبِيرٌ فِي حَالِ الْقِيَامِ، فَكُلُّ مَنْ كَبَّرَ فِي حَالِ الْقِيَامِ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ اسْتِدْلَالًا بِالسُّنَّةِ .
“The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, made it Sunnah to raise the hands when starting the prayer, going into Ruku’, and rising from Ruku’. All these instances of Takbeer are during standing. Therefore, whoever says Takbeer while standing will raise the hands based on this Sunnah.”
Imam Bayhaqi, may Allah have mercy on him:
Imam Bayhaqi, may Allah have mercy on him (458 AH), established a chapter on the above-mentioned Hadith as follows:
بَابُ رَفْعِ الْيَدَيْنِ فِي تَكْبِيرِ الْعِيدِ .
“The statement about raising the hands in the Takbeers of Eid.”
The Position of the Hanafis:
The Hanafis also believe in raising the hands during the additional Takbirs of the two Eids, but their argument is attributed to a statement of Imam Ibrahim Nakha’i, which is not authentically proven from him.
❀ The statement is as follows:
تُرْفَعُ الْأَيْدِي فِي سَبْعِ مَوَاطِنَ؛ فِي افْتِتَاحِ الصَّلَاةِ، وَفِي التَّكْبِيرَاتِ لِلْقُنُوتِ فِي الْوِتْرِ، وَفِي الْعِيدَيْنِ ……
“Raising the hands will be done on seven occasions; at the beginning of the prayer, in the Qunoot Takbirs of Witr, in the two Eids……”
This statement is very weak.
① There is no authentication for Shu’ayb ibn Sulayman ibn Sulaym al-Kaysani.
② Qadi Abu Yusuf considers it “weak” according to the majority.
❀ Imam Bukhari, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
تَرَكُوهُ . “The noble Muhaddithin abandoned it.”
③ Imam Abu Hanifa Nu’man ibn Thabit, may Allah have mercy on him, is weak in hadith according to the consensus of the Muhaddithin.
It is clear that the Hanafis have no authentic proof for raising the hands during the additional Takbirs of the two Eids. If they act upon the hadith, then they should also raise their hands when going into Ruku’ and when rising from it, because the hadith establishes the general rule that raising the hands on every Takbir said before Ruku’ is a Sunnah of the Prophet.
Our brothers on one hand abandon raising the hands when going into Ruku’ and when rising from it, yet on the other hand they believe in raising the hands during the additional Takbirs of the two Eids, and at the same time they do not believe in raising the hands during the Takbirs of the funeral prayer.
May Allah grant us the ability to adopt the Sunnah of the Messenger in all acts of worship. Ameen!
Question:
In the Takbeerat of the two Eids, should the hands be raised and then folded after each Takbeer, or should they be left open?
Answer:
After raising the hands on each Takbeer, they should be folded, because hands are folded during the standing before Ruku, and leaving them open is not established.
Question:
Is it appropriate to go to a different place every year to perform the Eid prayer?
Answer:
It is correct.
Question:
Can the Eid prayer be performed in a prison?
Answer:
It can be performed.
Question:
Is it Sunnah to make Dua after the Eid Khutbah?
Answer:
Making Dua after the Eid Khutbah is Sunnah, and women who are observing special days will also participate in it.
Question:
Is the Eidgah considered under the ruling of a mosque?
Answer:
Many matters of the Eidgah are under the ruling of a mosque.
Question:
What should one do if they miss the Eid prayer?
Answer:
It is better to perform the two Rak’ahs of Eid prayer in congregation with someone, otherwise, perform two Rak’ahs alone with the additional Takbeers.
Question:
What should one do if they cannot reach the Eidgah due to an excuse?
Answer:
Perform two Rak’ahs in congregation at home with the additional Takbeers.
Question:
Should the follower recite the extra Takbeers aloud?
Answer:
The Imam will say the Takbeer loudly, the follower should say it softly.
Question:
If a person arrives at the Eidgah after the prayer has ended, what should he do?
Answer:
He should join someone and perform two Rak’ahs in congregation with the extra Takbeers and participate in the sermon and supplication.
Question:
Is it necessary for the floor to be clean for the Eid prayers?
Answer:
Eid prayers are also prayers, so it is necessary for the floor to be clean.
Question:
How is it to pray four Rak’ahs Nafl in congregation after the Eid prayer?
Answer:
It is an innovation (Bid’ah).
Question:
Will Eid be prayed in small villages?
Answer:
Both Jumu’ah and Eid will be prayed in small villages.
Question:
Is it permissible to take payment for leading the Eid prayers?
Answer:
It is permissible.
Question:
Can one person lead Eid prayers in two places?
Answer:
He can do so in case of necessity; in the other place, he should intend it as Nafl.
Question:
How is it to build an Eidgah with income from bribery?
Bribery is unlawful wealth; good deeds done with it are not accepted. However, the Eidgah built with income from bribery is valid for prayer.
Question:
How is it to perform Eid prayer in the mosque in case of rain?
Answer:
Rain is an excuse; due to this excuse, Eid prayer can be performed in the mosque.
Question:
How is it to arrange Eid every year at a different place outside the populated area?
Answer:
Eid prayer can be performed at any place outside the populated area; every year a different place can be made an Eidgah.
Question:
If a funeral arrives at the time of Eid prayer, which prayer should be performed first?
Answer:
Either prayer can be performed first.
Question:
Is it necessary to eat something during the days of Tashreeq and Eid al-Fitr?
Answer:
Fasting on these days is prohibited. However, eating and drinking is not obligatory.
Question:
The sky was cloudy, the moon was not sighted, Eid was not prayed the next day, but at night it was found that the moon was for the next day; will the Eid prayer be valid or not?
Answer:
Yes, definitely.
Question:
If one forgets something in Eid prayer, will they perform Sajda Sahw (prostration of forgetfulness)?
Answer:
Yes, they will.
Is Eid and Jumu’ah valid where the sacrifice of a cow is not performed?
Answer:
It is valid.
Question:
What is the ruling on Jumu’ah and Eid in a village with one hundred and twenty-five houses?
Answer:
In such a village, Jumu’ah and Eid are valid.
Question:
Should the six fasts of Shawwal be started the day after Eid?
Answer:
The six fasts of Shawwal can be observed anytime during the month; it is not necessary to start them the day after Eid.
Question:
Will there be reward for fasting on the day of Eid?
Answer:
There is no reward; rather, one will incur sin for committing something forbidden.
Question:
Is it permissible to perform Eid and the five daily prayers in congregation in Dar al-Harb?
Answer:
In a Dar al-Harb where it is possible to perform Eid, Jumu’ah, and the five daily prayers in congregation, it is necessary to perform them in congregation.
Question:
In the Takbirs of the two Eids, will the followers also raise their hands?
Answer:
Yes indeed.
❀ Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنهما narrates: “When the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم would stand for prayer, he would raise both hands until they reached the level of the shoulders, then he would say Allahu Akbar. Then when he intended to bow, he would raise both hands until they reached the level of the shoulders, and in that state, he would say Allahu Akbar. Then he would bow. When he intended to raise his back from bowing, he would raise both hands up to the shoulders, then say Sami’a Allahu liman hamidah. Then he would prostrate, but he did not raise his hands during prostration; however, he raised his hands at every takbir of bowing and before every bowing, until his prayer was completed in this manner.”
The Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم raised his hands at every takbir said before bowing. Since the takbirs of the two Eids are also before bowing, raising the hands in them is proven from the Sunnah of the Prophet, and this is also the position of the Imams of Ahl al-Sunnah. This Sunnah applies to both the Imam and the follower, because there is no exception proven for the follower.
❀ Imam Ibn Mundhir رحمه الله (319 AH) states: “The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم made it Sunnah to raise the hands when starting the prayer, going to bow, and raising the head from bowing. All these instances are takbirs said while standing. Therefore, whoever says takbir while standing will, based on this Sunnah, raise his hands.”
