The Eid prayer

Muslims have two yearly celebrations, and each is called Eid (a festival). When the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, came to Madinah, the people there had two days of celebration from before Islam. He told them: "Allah has substituted for them something better than them, the day of sacrifice and the day of the breaking of the fast" (Abu Dawud, sahih).

• Eid al-Fitr (the festival of breaking the fast) is the day after the month of Ramadan ends.

• Eid al-Adha (the festival of sacrifice) is on the tenth day of Dhul-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar, during the season of Hajj.

Eid is a day of joy. When Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, objected to two girls singing in the Prophet's home on Eid, the Prophet said: "O Abu Bakr! There is an Eid for every nation and this is our Eid" (Bukhari). Fasting is not allowed on either Eid day (Bukhari).

The Eid prayer

On the morning of each Eid, Muslims gather, often in a large hall or an open space, for a special prayer of two units (rak'ahs) (al-Nasa'i, sahih). There is no adhan and no iqamah for it (Bukhari and Muslim). Scholars differ on its exact ruling: some consider it a strongly emphasized sunnah, and others a duty. All agree it is part of the religion, and the Prophet asked everyone to come out for it.

What makes this prayer different is the extra takbirs: extra calls of Allahu Akbar in each unit. The imam says each one aloud, and you say them after him.

• Most scholars, including the Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali schools, teach seven takbirs in the first unit and five in the second (some count the opening Allahu Akbar among the seven). This is based on the hadith of Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her (Abu Dawud, sahih).

• The Hanafi school, following companions such as Ibn Mas'ud, teaches three extra takbirs in each unit.

• The companions themselves differed on this, and Imam Ahmad said all of their views are acceptable. Simply follow the imam at your masjid.

The sermon comes after the prayer

Unlike Jumuah, the Eid sermon (khutbah) comes after the prayer. The Prophet, Abu Bakr, and Umar all prayed the Eid prayer before the sermon (Bukhari and Muslim). In his Eid sermon, the Prophet commanded people to be mindful of Allah and obey Him, reminded them, and encouraged them to give charity (Bukhari and Muslim).

Sunnah acts of the day

Say the takbir. About completing the fast of Ramadan, Allah says: "and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful" (Quran 2:185). Muslims fill the morning of Eid with takbir, on the way to the prayer and while waiting, until the imam begins. A well-known wording, reported from the companion Ibn Mas'ud, may Allah be pleased with him, with an authentic chain, is this:

• Bathe and dress well. The companion Ibn Umar used to bathe before going out on the day of Eid al-Fitr (Malik's Muwatta, authentic), and scholars agree this is recommended. Dressing in your best for Eid was known in the Prophet's time (Bukhari). Women going out to the prayer dress modestly and do not wear perfume (Muslim).

• Eat before the prayer on Eid al-Fitr. The Prophet would not go out on the morning of Eid al-Fitr until he had eaten some dates, and he ate an odd number (Bukhari). On Eid al-Adha, he would not eat until after the prayer (Tirmidhi, sahih).

• Give zakat al-fitr before the prayer. The Prophet made this small charity of food due on every Muslim, young and old, at the end of Ramadan, and ordered that it be given before people go out to the prayer (Bukhari and Muslim).

• Bring everyone. The Prophet asked that even young women and those who usually stayed at home come out on Eid. Women on their period came too: they joined in the takbir and the supplications, hoping for the blessing of the day, but stayed away from the prayer area itself (Bukhari and Muslim).

• Take a different way home. On Eid, the Prophet would return by a different route from the one he came by (Bukhari).

• On Eid al-Adha, the sacrifice comes after the prayer. The Prophet said that the first thing they do on this day is pray, and then they go back and offer their sacrifices (Bukhari).

• Greet one another. The companions used to congratulate each other on Eid by asking Allah to accept their good deeds (a report Ibn Hajar graded hasan). Many Muslims today say Taqabbalallahu minna wa minkum (may Allah accept from us and from you) or Eid Mubarak (a blessed Eid).

Your first Eid

Your first Eid as a Muslim can feel big, especially without Muslim family around you. You belong at the Eid prayer as much as anyone there. Go early, stand in the rows, say the takbir with everyone, and let yourself enjoy the day. If you can, tell someone at your masjid or a Muslim friend beforehand so they can look out for you, and ask whether there is a gathering or meal after the prayer.

This is the last lesson of Prayer Fundamentals, and you have come a long way. Take the short knowledge check below to review, and remember that every prayer you offer counts, even while you are still learning.