Description of the ‘Eed Prayer

Under category: The Prophet's Worship

•  no ’athaan (call for prayer) or iqaamah (second call to prayer): jaabir ibn samurah said, “i prayed with the messenger of allaah the prayers of the two ‘eeds more than once or twice without there being ’athaan (call for prayer) or iqaamah.” [muslim]
• the ‘eed prayer should be performed as soon as the sun rises: al-haafith ibn hajar reported in fat-h al-baari that ibn battaal said, “islamic jurists unanimously agreed that ‘eed prayer is not to be performed before or immediately after sunrise, but as soon as the time during which performing naafilah (voluntary prayer) becomes permissible starts.”

yazeed ibn khumayr ar-rahbi said, “‘abdullah ibn busr a companion of the prophet came out along with the people on the fitr or adh-ha day (to offer the prayer). he disliked the delay of the imaam, and said, ‘we would finish our ‘eed prayer at this moment, that is, at the time of tasbeeh.” [abu daawood (al-albaani: saheeh) [al-bukhaari narrated it in an abridged form]

• placing a sutrah (object serving as a barrier for one who is praying) in front of the imaam: since it is an act of the sunnah for the ‘eed prayer to be performed in the open (outside the mosque), it is necessary to place a sutrah in front of the imaam. ibn ‘umar reported, “on the day of ‘eed al-fitr and ‘eed al-adh-ha a spear used to be planted in front of the prophet and then he would pray.” [al-bukhaari]
• the ‘eed prayer should precede the khutbah (sermon): according to the guidance of the prophet ‘eed prayer should precede the khutbah. abu sa’eed al-khudri said, “the messenger of allaah used to come out to the place of prayer on the day of al-fitr and al-adh-ha, and the first thing he would start with was the prayer, then he would go and stand facing the people, while the people were sitting in their rows, and he would preach to them and advise them and command them. if he wanted to send out a military expedition he would do so and if he wanted to tell the people to do something he would do so, then he would leave.” [al-bukhaari]
• number of the rak‘ahs (units) in the ‘eed prayer: ibn ‘abbaas said, “the prophet went out and offered two rak‘ahs on the day of ‘eed al-fitr and he did not pray before or after it. then, he went towards the women along with bilaal and ordered them to pay alms and so they started giving their earrings and necklaces (in charity).” [al-bukhaari]
• number and place of the takbeer: ‘aa’ishah said, “the messenger of allaah would say the takbeer (allaahu akbar) seven times in the first rak’ah and five times in the second rak’ah on the day ‘eed al-fitr and ‘eed al-adh-ha.” [abu daawood (al-albaani: saheeh)]
•  recitation during the ‘eed prayer: an-nu‘maan ibn basheer said, “the messenger of allaah used to recite in the [prayers of] the two ‘eeds and friday prayer the two surahs of al-a‘la and al-ghaashiyah.” [an-nasaa’i (al-albaani: saheeh)]

‘umar once went out to perform ‘eed prayer and asked abu waaqid al-laythi, “what did the prophet usually recite on this day?” he answered, “the two surahs of qaaf and al-qamar.” ‎[an-nasaa’i (al-albaani: saheeh)]