How do I pray the Eid prayer?
Yes, it's easier than it looks: two rak'at led by an imam, with a few extra "Allahu akbar"s. You pray it in the morning in congregation, with no call to prayer, and a short sermon follows. If you just watch the imam and follow him, you'll be fine, even on your very first Eid.
Before you start
- Time: after sunrise, once the sun has risen a little, until just before midday. Most mosques pray between 7 and 10 a.m. A Companion of the Prophet ﷺ complained when an imam was late, saying they used to finish by the forenoon (Sunan Abi Dawud 1135).
- No adhan or iqamah: the Eid prayer has no call to prayer (Sahih Muslim 887).
- No extra prayers: the Prophet ﷺ prayed two rak'at and nothing before or after it (Sahih al-Bukhari 964).
- Wudu and intention: make wudu, and in your heart intend to pray the Eid prayer behind the imam.
Step by step
First rak'ah:
- Say "Allahu akbar" with the imam to start, as in any prayer.
- The imam then says several extra takbirs. Raise your hands with each one and lower them, or simply follow what people around you do.
- The imam recites al-Fatiha and a surah out loud. Listen, then do ruku and sujud as normal.
Second rak'ah:
- Stand up with "Allahu akbar", then follow the extra takbirs again.
- Listen to the recitation, bow, prostrate, sit for the tashahhud and finish with salam.
The Prophet ﷺ often recited Surah al-A'la (87) and Surah al-Ghashiyah (88) in the Eid prayers (Sahih Muslim 878).
How many extra takbirs?
This depends on the school, so don't worry if your mosque differs from what you read:
- Most Shafi'i, Maliki and Hanbali mosques: seven in the first rak'ah and five in the second, before the recitation. This follows a hadith reporting seven and five (Sunan Abi Dawud 1151).
- Hanafi mosques: three extra in each rak'ah; in the second rak'ah they come after the recitation, just before ruku. A Companion described four takbirs like a funeral prayer, counting the opening one (Sunan Abi Dawud 1153).
Whatever the imam does, you follow. If you lose count or miss one, most scholars say your prayer is still valid. Between the takbirs you can stay quiet or softly say "SubhanAllah, walhamdulillah, wa la ilaha illallah, wallahu akbar". To learn the general movements of prayer, see Do I need to know how to pray before I become Muslim?
After the prayer
The imam gives a short sermon (khutbah). Staying to listen is recommended, though it's allowed to leave (Sunan Ibn Majah 1290). Then come the hugs, handshakes and "Eid Mubarak"s. See How can I make Eid special as a convert?
- Two rak'at in congregation, in the morning, with no adhan.
- Extra takbirs: 7 and 5 in most schools, 3 and 3 for Hanafis.
- Just follow the imam; missing a takbir doesn't ruin the prayer.
- A short sermon comes after the prayer.
People also ask
Do I have to buy new clothes for Eid?
No, new clothes for Eid aren't required. The sunnah is to wear your best, and that can be something you own. Never take on debt for it.
Read the full answer →What should I wear on Eid as a Muslim?
Yes, wear your best clothes on Eid, as long as they're modest. They don't need to be new or cultural: smart, clean and modest is right.
Read the full answer →What is the difference between Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha?
It depends on the part: Eid al-Fitr ends Ramadan with zakat al-fitr; Eid al-Adha comes with Hajj and qurbani. The prayer is the same.
Read the full answer →What is qurbani and do I have to do it?
It depends on your means. Qurbani is the Eid al-Adha sacrifice: Hanafis say it's obligatory if you can afford it, most others a strong Sunnah.
Read the full answer →Why do Muslims celebrate Eid on different days?
It depends on the method: local moon sighting, global sighting or calculation. All have scholarly support, so follow your community.
Read the full answer →