The Eid prayer (salatu'l-`idayn) was prescribed in the first year after the hijra. It is a Wajib and Muhammad always performed these prayers and their attendance was mandatory.

The time for the Eid prayer begins from the time the sun is three meters from the horizon until the sun reaches its meridian. Ahmad ibn Hassan al-Bana records that Jundub said: "The Prophet prayed the Eid ul fitr prayer while the sun was (approximately) six meters above the horizon and the 'eid of the sacrifice while the sun was three meters above the horizon."

Concerning the adhan and iqamah for salatul 'eidain Ibn al-Qayyum writes: "When the Prophet went to the place of prayer, he would perform the salah without any adhan or iqamah and without saying the Friday congregational prayer."

The Eid prayer consists of two ra'kat during which it is sunnah to pronounce the takbir seven times, after the opening takbir and before the Quranic recital in the first rak'ah. During the second rak'ah, one makes takbir five times after the takbir which is customarily made for standing after the prostration. One is to raise one's hands during each pronouncement of the takbir. This is based on a report transmitted from Umar and his son Abdullah. The Hanafi school holds that in the first rak'ah three takbirat are to be made after the opening takbir, but before the recital.

The khutbah after salatul 'eid is a sunnah and so is listening to it.

Categories: Salat | Islamic festivals | Prayer