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How Eid prayer works

The two happiest mornings of the year — when they fall next, how Eid salah differs from a normal prayer, the takbir, and the sunnahs of the day.

Coming up

  • Eid al-FitrMonday, March 8, 2027 (1 Shawwal)
  • Eid al-AdhaSaturday, May 15, 2027 (10 Dhu al-Hijjah)

Estimated from the tabular calendar — confirm with local moon sighting.

The takbir of Eid

The Eid takbir

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ

Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, la ilaha illa llah, wa llahu akbar, Allahu akbar, wa lillahi l-hamd

Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest; there is no god but Allah. Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, and to Allah belongs all praise.

Said on the way to the Eid prayer, and through the days of Eid al-Adha.

How the prayer works

1

When & where

Two rakats prayed in congregation in the morning after sunrise, with no adhan and no iqamah. The khutbah comes after the prayer.

2

The extra takbirs

Eid salah adds extra takbirs: most schools say 7 extra in the first rakah and 5 in the second (before the recitation); the Hanafi school says 3 extra in each rakah. Follow your imam, and raise your hands with each takbir.

3

The rest is a normal prayer

After the takbirs, the prayer continues exactly like any two-rakah salah: al-Fatiha and a surah, ruku, sujud, tashahhud and salam.

4

Stay for the khutbah

Listening to the Eid khutbah after the prayer is part of the day.

Sunnahs of the day

  • Make ghusl and wear your best clothes
  • Eid al-Fitr: eat something sweet (dates) before leaving; give zakat al-fitr before the prayer
  • Eid al-Adha: it is preferred not to eat until after the prayer
  • Say the takbir on the way
  • Take a different route home, greeting people on both
  • Greet others: "Eid Mubarak" or "Taqabbala llahu minna wa minkum" (may Allah accept from us and you)