How to pray Eid
Eid is the festival prayer, offered twice a year: Eid al-Fitr (the morning after Ramadan ends) and Eid al-Adha (the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah). Two rak'ahs in congregation, with additional takbirs distributed between the opening takbir and the ruku. The Prophet ﷺ used to pray Eid in an open space (musalla) rather than in the mosque, and he walked back from Eid by a different route than he had taken to it.
After sunrise until just before noon, on the morning of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha
Aloud in both rak'ahs by the imam.
2 rak'ahs + extra takbirs
Starts about 15 to 20 minutes after sunrise (when the sun has fully risen above the horizon) and ends before the sun reaches zenith. No adhan and no iqamah.
What makes Eid distinct
- 1
Two rak'ahs in congregation, prayed before the khutbah (not after like Jumu'ah).
- 2
Extra takbirs: seven in the first rak'ah after the opening takbir (before reciting al-Fatihah), five in the second rak'ah after rising (before al-Fatihah). Practice varies slightly by madhab.
- 3
No adhan or iqamah. The imam simply begins.
- 4
Recommended to eat something sweet (like dates) before going to Eid al-Fitr prayer, and to delay eating until after Eid al-Adha prayer.
- 5
Recommended to walk by a different route to and from the prayer.
- 6
Takbirs of Eid (Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, la ilaha illa-llah...) are said from dawn until the prayer, aloud in public.
Special steps for Eid
The Takbirs of Eid, said on the way to prayer
Recited aloud on the way to the musalla, in markets, on streets. For Eid al-Adha the takbirs continue after each prayer until the afternoon of the 13th of Dhul-Hijjah.
FAQs about Eid
Is Eid prayer fard or sunnah?+
Scholars differ. The Hanafi school considers it wajib for men. The Shafi'i school considers it sunnah mu'akkadah. The Hanbali school considers it fard kifayah. In all positions it is something no Muslim able to attend should miss.
What if I miss the Eid congregation?+
If you arrive after the imam has finished but before the khutbah ends, join. If you miss the entire prayer, pray two rak'ahs at home in the same format (with the extra takbirs). You miss the congregational reward but not the prayer itself.
Do I pray anything before Eid at the musalla?+
No. There are no sunnah rak'ahs before or after Eid at the musalla itself. If prayed at a mosque and you arrive, you may pray tahiyyatul masjid.
Is the khutbah obligatory to listen to?+
Unlike Jumu'ah, the Eid khutbah is sunnah, not wajib to attend. Staying for it is strongly encouraged. Leaving after the prayer is permitted but missing the reward.
Do women go to Eid prayer?+
Yes. The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Let the mature and the virgin and the one in seclusion come out, and let the menstruating stay back from the prayer but witness the good and the dua.' Sahih al-Bukhari 974. Women in menstruation come for the du'a and khutbah but do not pray.
Learn the full prayer
Every daily prayer builds on the same 2-rak'ah pattern: wudu, the takbir, al-Fatihah, a surah, ruku, sujud, tashahhud, and salam. Learn the complete walkthrough once and every prayer makes sense.