The Prophet’s Guidance for the Two Eid Prayers

He (peace be upun him) used to lead the Eid prayer at the musalla, wearing his best clothes.

At Eid al-Fitr, he ate an odd number of dates before heading for the musalla. But for Eid al-Adha he (peace be upun him) delayed eating until after the prayer, then he ate from his sacrifice. He would delay the Eid al-Fitr prayer and hold the Eid al-Adha prayer early.

He (peace be upun him) walked to the musalla carrying a pointed stick to be implanted in front of him as a sutrah in prayer.

When he (peace be upun him) reached the musalla he would perform the Eid prayer without any adhaan or iqaamah and without saying "As-salatu jaami`ah" (prayer in congregation). Neither he nor his companions would perform any kind of prayer before or after the Eid prayer.

He (peace be upun him) held the prayer before delivering the sermon. He performed two rak`ahs, the first beginning with seven successive repetitions of "Allahu akbar", making a brief pause between each two. It has not been reported that he said anything between them. Then he recited verses of the Qur'an, said "Allahu akbar" and made ruku`. In the second rak`ah he repeated "Allahu akbar" five times before reciting the Qur'an. Once he had finished the prayer, he would deliver his sermon to the people sitting in rows. He (peace be upun him) would advise them, order them [to do good deeds] and forbid them [from evil]. In Eid prayer he would sometimes recite the whole of Surahs “Qaf” and “Al-Qamar”, or he would recite “Al-A`la” and “Al-Ghaashiyah”.

He (peace be upun him) delivered the sermon sitting on the ground as there was no pulpit.

He (peace be upun him) allowed whoever could not to stay for the sermon to leave, sufficing with the prayer. He also ruled that those who attended Eid prayer were excused from the Friday prayer if they occurred on the same day.

When he went to Eid prayer, he would return by a different route