Eid Prayer: How to Pray It, Step by Step
How the Eid prayer works: two rak'ahs with extra takbirs (3 + 3 or 7 + 5 by school), the khutbah afterwards, its time after sunrise, and the morning sunnahs.
This guide explains common views and sources. It is not a fatwa. For your own situation, ask a scholar or imam you trust.
The Eid prayer is prayed twice a year, on the morning of Eid al-Fitr (1 Shawwal) and Eid al-Adha (10 Dhul Hijjah). It is two rak'ahs with extra takbirs, prayed in congregation after sunrise, followed by a khutbah. Here is the whole morning, in order.
Dates in 2027 (expected)
- Eid al-Fitr 1448: Tuesday 9 March 2027 (Wednesday 10 March in countries that complete 30 days or sight the moon later).
- Eid al-Adha 1448: Sunday 16 May 2027.
Dates follow the Umm al-Qura calendar and are expected; the actual date in your country depends on moon sighting or the local authority and may differ by a day. Details of each Eid are in Eid al-Fitr 2027 and Eid al-Adha 2027; the Hijri calendar shows the month.
Time of the prayer
After the sun has risen and climbed a little (about 15–20 minutes after sunrise, when the disliked time ends) until just before the sun's zenith (Dhuhr time). Most mosques fix a time between 07:00 and 10:00; big cities run several sittings. Check the mosque's announcement and the sunrise time for your city. Eid al-Adha is prayed early so the sacrifice can follow; Eid al-Fitr may be a little later so that zakat al-fitr can be given beforehand.
The morning before the prayer
| Sunnah | Source |
|---|---|
| Ghusl, best clothes, perfume for men | reported practice of the companions |
| Eid al-Fitr: eat something, traditionally an odd number of dates, before leaving | Bukhari 953 |
| Eid al-Adha: delay eating until after the prayer, if you are sacrificing | reported by al-Tirmidhi |
| Pay zakat al-fitr before the prayer (Eid al-Fitr) | Bukhari 1503 / Muslim 984 |
| Say the takbirat on the way: Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, la ilaha illallah, wallahu akbar, Allahu akbar, wa lillahil-hamd | practice of the companions |
| Walk if you can; go by one route and return by another | Bukhari 986 |
| Bring the whole family, including young children | reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim |
There is no sunnah prayer before or after the Eid prayer at the prayer ground; at home afterwards, voluntary prayer is fine.
How the prayer is performed
There is no adhan and no iqamah. Rows straighten as for any congregational prayer.
First rak'ah
- Opening takbir with the imam: Allahu akbar.
- Opening dua (Subhanaka Allahumma…), quietly.
- Extra takbirs. Raise the hands with each one and say Allahu akbar after the imam. The number differs:
- Hanafi: 3 extra takbirs, hands dropped to the sides after each, folded after the third.
- Shafi'i, Maliki, Hanbali (commonly): 7 extra takbirs (Malikis count 6 in addition to the opening takbir), with a short pause of praise between each (Shafi'i: "Subhanallah, walhamdu lillah, wa la ilaha illallah, wallahu akbar").
- The imam recites al-Fatiha aloud and a surah: commonly al-A'la (87) or Qaf (50).
- Ruku', sujud, as normal.
Second rak'ah
- Stand; the imam recites al-Fatiha and a surah: commonly al-Ghashiyah (88) or al-Qamar (54).
- Extra takbirs:
- Hanafi: after the recitation and before ruku', 3 extra takbirs, then a fourth takbir to go into ruku' without raising the hands.
- Majority: before the recitation, 5 extra takbirs (so 7 + 5 in total).
- Ruku', sujud, tashahhud, salawat, salam.
If you forget a takbir or lose count, the prayer is still valid; Hanafis would not require sajdah sahw in congregation behind the imam.
The khutbah
After the salam the imam delivers a khutbah in two parts, like Jumu'ah but after the prayer rather than before it. Listening is recommended (not required as on Friday), and a person with a genuine need may leave after the salam, though staying is the sunnah. The khutbah on Eid al-Adha usually explains the sacrifice; on Eid al-Fitr, zakat al-fitr and the end of Ramadan.
Worked timeline: Eid al-Fitr, Tuesday 9 March 2027, London (expected)
| Time | |
|---|---|
| 05:30 | Fajr at home (Fajr about 04:55, sunrise about 06:20 in London that week; adjust for your city) |
| 06:30 | Ghusl, new or best clothes, three dates |
| 07:00 | Zakat al-fitr paid online or at the mosque collection point, if not already given |
| 07:30 | Walk to the Eid ground, takbirat aloud |
| 08:00 | Eid prayer, about 10 minutes |
| 08:15 | Khutbah, about 15 minutes |
| 08:30 | Greetings ("Eid Mubarak", "taqabbal Allahu minna wa minkum": may Allah accept from us and from you), return by a different road |
Figures are approximate; use the prayer times for your city.
If you miss the prayer
Shafi'is and Hanbalis: pray it alone in the same form, any time before noon, or make it up later that day. Hanafis: it cannot be made up alone; pray four voluntary rak'ahs instead if you wish, and try to catch a later sitting. Malikis: recommended to pray it alone in the same form. For Eid al-Adha, if the whole community misses the prayer, it may be held the next day in several views.
The two Eids are the only two festivals of the Islamic year. Fasting on either day is prohibited; eating, visiting, giving to the poor and praying this short prayer with the community are the day's worship. For questions about your local Eid arrangements or missed prayers, ask the imam or a scholar you trust.
Useful tools
Questions and answers
I missed the extra takbirs because I arrived late. Is my prayer valid?
Yes. Join the imam wherever he is; if he is already reciting, say the extra takbirs quietly before you start listening (Hanafi, Shafi'i), or simply follow him. If you arrive after ruku', you missed that rak'ah and make it up after his salam, with its takbirs.
Can I pray Eid at home if there is no congregation nearby?
Shafi'is and Hanbalis allow praying it individually or with the family at home in the same form. Hanafis and Malikis hold that the Eid prayer requires the conditions of a congregation, so a person alone prays voluntary rak'ahs instead. During the 2020 closures many scholars from all schools allowed it at home.
Do women attend the Eid prayer?
The Prophet asked that women, including those not praying, come out to the Eid gathering (reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim). Most mosques and Eid grounds have a women's area; it is a prayer the whole family is encouraged to attend.
Is there an adhan or iqamah for Eid?
No. The imam simply begins. People often announce it with 'as-salatu jami'ah' (the prayer is gathering).
Should I eat before the Eid prayer?
On Eid al-Fitr, yes: the Prophet ate dates, an odd number, before leaving (Bukhari 953). On Eid al-Adha, it is sunnah to wait and eat from the sacrifice afterwards, if you are sacrificing.
Sources
- Sahih al-Bukhari 953 (dates before Eid al-Fitr prayer)
- Sahih al-Bukhari 986 (taking a different route on Eid)
- Sahih al-Bukhari; Sahih Muslim (the Eid prayer before the khutbah, without adhan or iqamah)
- Sunan Abu Dawud; Sunan Ibn Majah (the number of takbirs in Eid prayer)