MINARA
How to Pray the Eid Prayer
Two rak'ahs, six extra takbirs and a khutbah delivered after the prayer, step by step. Based on the Hanafi school following the Diyanet Ilmihal; the differences of the other schools are stated separately.
Four things that set the Eid prayer apart
It is two rak'ahs and is prayed in congregation. Its structure differs from the five daily prayers at four points; it is not the person who does not know how to pray who gets confused, but the one who does not know these four differences. (According to the Hanafi school.)
- Difference 1Six extra takbirsThree extra takbirs in each rak'ah
- Difference 2No adhan, no iqamahOne stands directly for the prayer
- Difference 3The khutbah comes lastUnlike Jumu'ah, it is delivered after the prayer
- Difference 4It has no make-upIf its time passes it is not prayed later
Step by step
Both rak'ahs are set out below. The steps marked in gold are the fard acts of the prayer. The extra takbirs are wajib in the Hanafi school: they are what make the Eid prayer an Eid prayer, and if they are forgotten the prayer is not invalidated but the prostration of forgetfulness is required.
Intention
One intends: “I intend to pray the Eid prayer for the sake of God, following the imam present before me.” The intention is among the conditions of the prayer; intending in the heart is sufficient.
The opening takbir and Subhanaka
The hands are raised to ear level, “Allahu akbar” is said and the hands are folded. Subhanaka is recited.
The extra takbirs of the first rak'ah
The hands are raised to ear level at each takbir. After the first two they are let down at the sides; after the third they are folded.
Between the takbirsOne waits the length of three tasbihs (long enough to say “Subhanallah”). The takbirs are not run together.
Most often confused: after the third takbir the hands are FOLDED, not let down.
The Fatihah and a surah
The ta'awwudh and basmala are said, then the Fatihah and a surah are recited. The imam recites aloud. The first rak'ah is then completed with the ruku' and the prostrations.
In the second rak'ah the recitation comes first
One rises. The basmala, the Fatihah and a surah are recited. In the second rak'ah the takbirs come after the recitation — the reverse of the order in the first rak'ah.
The extra takbirs of the second rak'ah
The hands are raised to ear level at each takbir and let down at the sides all three times; they are not folded.
Here the hands are not folded — this is the difference from the first rak'ah.
Going into ruku' with the fourth takbir
After the extra takbirs, “Allahu akbar” is said without raising the hands and one goes into ruku'. The prostrations are performed, one sits, and the prayer is completed with the salam.
The khutbah
After the prayer the imam ascends the pulpit and delivers the khutbah. Listening to the Eid khutbah is sunnah.
The time of the Eid prayer
The time begins once the sun has risen and the disliked period has passed — roughly 45–50 minutes later — and lasts until midday (the time of zawal). It is mustahabb to pray it slightly later on Eid al-Fitr and earlier on Eid al-Adha.
The Eid prayer has no make-up. If it cannot be prayed on the first day for a valid reason, it may be prayed on the second and third day of Eid al-Adha; on Eid al-Fitr it may only be deferred to the following day.
The takbirat at-tashriq
Specific to Eid al-Adha; there are no tashriq takbirs on Eid al-Fitr.
Beginning with the Fajr prayer on the Day of Arafah and continuing until the Asr prayer on the fourth day of Eid, they are said once after each of a total of 23 obligatory prayers:
“Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar. La ilaha illallahu wallahu akbar. Allahu akbar wa lillahi'l-hamd.”
They are said after every obligatory prayer, whether prayed in congregation or alone; they are not said after the sunnah prayers. The 23 prayers given here are according to the Hanafi school; the differences in duration and ruling between the schools are stated separately below.
The sunnahs of the morning of Eid
Performing ghusl
Performing the full washing on the morning of Eid is sunnah.
Clean clothes and fragrance
Wearing one's best clothes and applying fragrance.
Eating something sweet on Eid al-Fitr
A few dates or something sweet is eaten before going to the prayer.
Not eating on Eid al-Adha
It is mustahabb not to eat before the prayer and before the meat of the sacrifice.
Going early and on foot
Going to the prayer ground early and on foot.
Returning by another road
Returning by a road different from the one taken is sunnah.
Differences between the schools
That the prayer is two rak'ahs and that the khutbah comes last is the same in all four schools. The differences gather around the number and the place of the takbirs — the arrangement described on this page is that of the Hanafi school.
How many extra takbirs are there and where are they said?
- Hanafi
- Six takbirs: three in each rak'ah. In the first rak'ah before the recitation, in the second rak'ah after it.
- Shafi'i
- Twelve takbirs: seven in the first rak'ah and five in the second. In both, they are said before the recitation.
- Hanbali
- Eleven takbirs: six in the first rak'ah and five in the second; before the recitation.
- Maliki
- Eleven takbirs: six in the first rak'ah and five in the second; before the recitation.
What is the ruling on the Eid prayer?
- Hanafi
- Wajib; it is not considered proper for someone who meets its conditions to omit it.
- Shafi'i · Maliki
- A confirmed sunnah (sunnah mu'akkadah).
- Hanbali
- Fard kifaya; once enough people in a locality have prayed it, the obligation falls away from the rest.
Is a congregation a condition?
- Hanafi
- It is a condition; it rests on the same basis as the congregation condition of Jumu'ah.
- Shafi'i
- It is not a condition; it may be prayed alone, and it is permissible for women to pray it at home.
- Hanbali
- It is prayed in congregation; someone who does not reach the prayer has been permitted to make it up as two rak'ahs.
- Maliki
- Praying it in congregation is what the sunnah requires; two views are reported within the school as to whether someone who does not reach the prayer may pray it alone.
Are the hands raised at the takbirs?
- Hanafi
- They are raised at every extra takbir; they are folded after the last takbir of the first rak'ah and let down at the others.
- Shafi'i · Hanbali
- They are raised at every takbir and folded again.
- Maliki
- According to the well-known report from Imam Malik the hands are raised only at the opening takbir and not at the extra takbirs. A report to the contrary also exists within the school.
After which prayers are the tashriq takbirs said?
- Hanafi
- Wajib. From the Fajr prayer on the Day of Arafah until the Asr prayer on the fourth day of Eid, after 23 obligatory prayers.
- Shafi'i
- Sunnah. For those not on Hajj, from the Fajr prayer on the Day of Arafah until the Asr prayer on the fourth day; for pilgrims, from the Zuhr prayer on the first day of Eid until the Fajr prayer on the fourth day.
- Hanbali
- Sunnah. For those not on Hajj, from the Fajr prayer on the Day of Arafah until the Asr prayer on the fourth day of Eid.
- Maliki
- Mandub. From the Zuhr prayer on the first day of Eid until the Fajr prayer on the fourth day, after 15 obligatory prayers.
Frequently asked questions
How many rak'ahs is the Eid prayer?
It is two rak'ahs and is prayed in congregation. No adhan or iqamah is called.
How many takbirs are said in the Eid prayer?
In the Hanafi school six extra takbirs are said besides the opening takbir: three in each rak'ah. In the Shafi'i school seven are said in the first rak'ah and five in the second.
Is the Eid prayer made up if it is missed?
It has no make-up. On Eid al-Adha it may be prayed on the second and third day for a valid reason; on Eid al-Fitr it may only be deferred to the following day.
When is the khutbah delivered in the Eid prayer?
It is delivered after the prayer. In the Friday prayer the khutbah comes before the prayer; the order of the two is the reverse of each other.
When are the tashriq takbirs said?
They are specific to Eid al-Adha. According to the Hanafi school they are said once after each of 23 obligatory prayers, from the Fajr prayer on the Day of Arafah until the Asr prayer on the fourth day of Eid. The limits in the other schools are given in the section on the differences between the schools. There are no tashriq takbirs on Eid al-Fitr.
Is the Eid prayer wajib for women too?
In the Hanafi school its obligation, as with the Friday prayer, is addressed to men. It is permissible for women to pray it by joining the congregation.
Related pages
Wake in time on the morning of Eid
Minara tells you when the prayer time begins, reminds you of religious days in advance and shows the qibla direction from where you are. Ad-free, free.
Note
Source: Presidency of Religious Affairs of Türkiye (Diyanet), Ilmihal I — Faith and Worship, chapters “The Eid Prayer” and “The Takbirat at-Tashriq”.
This page is not a fatwa. It is a reminder of the order of the prayer and the place of the takbirs. For a question about your own situation, consult a mosque community or a qualified person.