Fiqhul Eid made easy

In light of the Sunnah

1: Why is it called Eid?
It is called Eid because it returns yearly and Jumu'ah is the weekly Eid.
1

2: Is the Eid prayer Sunnah, Wajib, or Fard Keyfiyah?
The scholars differ and the strongest opinion is that it is Fard 'Ayn on every
Muslim. This is the position of Abu Hanifah and Shaykhul Islam Ibn
Taymiyyah. Reason being they hold this view is the Prophet (sallAllahu
alayhi wa salam) never left it off, and even the menstruating women were
ordered to attend.
2

3: Where is Eid prayer held? Is it in the Masjid like Jumu'ah?
Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudiri(Radi Allahu Anhu ) said:

" The Prophet(sallAllahu alayhi wa salam) used to go out on Eidul Fitr and
Adha to the Musala.
3


4: Is it Sunnah to offer any prayer when arriving at the Musala?
Ibn Abbass (Radi Allahu Anhu ) said:


"The Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa salam) came to the Eid prayer and prayed two
Rak'ah. He didnt pray before them or after them."
4


Shaykh Salih Al-Fawzan said: It's disliked to pray before the Eid prayer or after it
any prayer in the Musala. One should just come and sit down.
5


1
Shaykh Mansour ibn Yousef Al-Bhuti, Ar-Rawd ul-Murbi` bi-Sharhi Zad il-Mustaqni pg 474
2
Shaykh Salih Al-Fawzan, Sharhul Mukhtasru ala Matn Zad vol2/pg93-95
3
Al-Bukhari1/243 and Muslim3/20
4
At-Tirmithi 735, At- Tirmithi graded this hadith as being Hasan Sahih
5
Shaykh Salih Fawzan, v2/pg117
5: What should be said as I walk to the Musala to offer Eid?
Nafi' said:

" Ibn Umar used to head out early in the morning to Eid prayer from the Masjid. He
used to raise his voice saying the " Takbir" until he rached the Musala. After he
reached the Musala he would continue with the Takbir until the Imam came.
6
.
6: Are there any specific words to say for the Takbirs at Eid ?
Shaykh Abdul Muhsin Al-Abbadd said:" reported from the salaf are 2
phrases:"
7


or

7: Should the Takbirat be said in unison with other people while waiting
for the Imam to arrive?
Shaykh Abdul Muhsin Al-Abbadd: This act goes against the Sunnah. There
isnt anything authentic that supports the Takbir being said in harmony in a
group. Shaykh Hamoud At-Tuwayjuri wrote a book about this issue in
detail.
8


8: Before going to the prayer what is Sunnah or Wajib?
It is Sunnah to eat something before going to Eid Al-Fitr.

- -

6
Al-Bayhaqi in Sunnan Al-Kubara 3/279 . Al-Bayhaqi said this athar is Sahih Mawquf .
7
Explanation of Sunnan Abi Dawud, Maktabahtul Shaamila
8
Explanation for Sunnan Abi Dawud , Courtesy of Maktabatul Shaamilah
The Prophet (sallAllahu alahyi wa salam) never went out to the Eid Al-Fitr prayer
until he ate something and on Eid Al-Adha he didnt eat until after the prayer.
9


9: How should we head out towards the Eid?
Ali ibn Abee Talib( Radi Allahu Anhu) said:

From the acts of Sunnah is to go out on the Eid walking (towards the Musala)
and to eat something before you leave your house.
10




10: How many Takbirs are there in the Prayer?
There are a total of 12.Aisha (Radi Allah Anha) said:

- -

Narrated by Aisha (Radi Allahu anha): " The Prophet (sallAllahu alayhhi wa
salam) in Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha Prayer he used to do seven Takbirs in the 1
st

Rakha and in the 2
nd
he said 5
11
.


11: Is there anything to be said between the extra Takbirat in the 1
st
and
in the 2
nd
Rak'ah?

'Uqbah ibn Aamir (Radi Allah anhu) said:



" I asked Ibn Mas'ud(radi Allah anhu) about what he said after the Takbirat
in the Eid(prayer). He said: "I praised Allah and offer praises to him, and send
salutations on the Prophet."
12


9
Jam'I At-Tirmithi # 545, Shaykh Al-Albani graded this hadith as being Sahih

10
At-Tirmithi # 733,At-Tirmithi said this Hadith is Hasan
11
Abu Dawud 1151-Shaykh Al-Albani graded it as being Sahih
Imam Ahmed ibn Hanbal said: Between the Takbirat in Eid prayer a person should
say: SubhanAllah, Al-Hamdulilah, La illaha ill Allah, Wa Allahu Akbar, Allahuma
Sallu Ala Muhammadin An-Nabi , wa Ala Ali Muhammadin, waghfir lana war hamna.
This is what has been reported from Abdullah in Mas'ud
13

12: What happens if I arrive late and find the Imam in Ruku' ?

Mansoor bin Yoonus al-Buhuti (1051H) said: If you arrive at the Musala
and Imam is in Ruku' then do Takbir Al-Ihram ,and then go into Ruku' dont
busy yourself with making up the Takbir. Likewise if you come and find the
Imam standing, but he has completed saying the Takbirat, dont make them
up. Furthermore, if you arrive and the Imam is saying the extra Takbirat, then
the ones you missed are just missed. (no need to make them up.)
14


13: What about if I miss a complete Rak'ah ?
Hamad ibn Zayd said: If you miss a rak'ah with the Imam at the Eid prayer,
make it up and do what the Imam did during the 1
st
rakah.
15


Shaykh Zayd Madkhali said: There are various narrations on the salaf like
this one and the issue is vast.
16


14: Is it Sunnah to raise the hands for every Takbir?
Wa'il ibn Hajr (radi Allahu anhu) said:


" I saw the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wa salam) raise his hands
when saying the Takbir"
17



12
At-Tabarani in Al-Kabeer3/37/2 Al-Albani graded this athar as being Sahih in Irwa Al-Ghalil
13
Shaykh Abul Hussain Muhammad ibn Abee Ya'la,Tabaqat al-Fuqaha al-Hanabala 1/272
14
Shaykh Mansour Al-Bhuti Vol1/pg 477

15
Musanaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 2/187

16
Al-Afnanu Nadiyah 2/315
17
Ahmed 4/316 , Shaykh Al-Albani graded it as being Hasan in Irwa Al-Ghalil
Shaykh Al-Albani said: This refers to the description of the obligatory
prayers, which do not have the extra takbir in them. Thus, it can't be used a
proof to raise the hands for the Takbirat in the Eid prayer.
18



15: What about the hadith of Umar ibn Khattab (Radi Allahu anhu)" He used to
raise his hand at every Takbir in the Funeral and Eid prayers."

This hadith is collected in Al-Kubara by Al-Bayhaqi 3/293, Ibn
Khuzayma(2703) Al-Bukhari in raising the hands (81) As-Shafi' in
Musand(586) and At-Tabarani (12072) . Al-Bayhaqi said the hadith is
Munqat'I (broken) in its chain.

Ibn Jawzi said : There isnt anything authentic regarding the narrations of
raising the hands during seven incidences from Umar, Ali or Ibn Umar
19


16: Is there a difference of opinion about the issue of raising the hands
for every Takbir?
Yes, some scholars say it's not sunnah, because there is nothing reported on
the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa salam) about this act. They are Abu Yusef,
Imam Malik, Ibn Hazm , Shaykh Al-Albani and Shaykh Muqbil and others .
They rely on the hadith of Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (Radi Allah anhu) as one
evidence.

- -

" I will pray the Prophet's (sallAllahu alayhi wa salam) prayer. He said," He prayed
and only raised his hands once."
20

The other group of Schoars who say you raise your hands at every Takbir are;
Abu Haneefah, Ash-Shafa'I, Ahmed, Shaykh Bin Baz, Al-Uthaymeen, and Sh.
Fawzan , and others. One piece of evidence they rely on is the hadith of Wa'il
ibn Hajr. " I saw the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wa salam) raise
his hands when saying the Takbir"
21


Refer to Question number 12 above for Shaykh Al-Albani's response to that
judgment.

18
Shaykh Al-albani ,Irwa Al-Ghalil 3/112-114

19
At-Tahqeeq 1/336
20
Abu Dawud 748, At-Tirmithi 257. At-Tirmithi graded this hadith as being Hasan and Al-Albani graded it as being Sahih.
21
Ahmed 4/316 , Shaykh Al-Albani graded it as being Hasan in Irwa Al-Ghalil
Al-Qadi Abdul Wahhab Al-Baghdadi (422H) said: Takbir Ihram is for the beginning
of the prayer and doesnt refer to anything after that. Allah knows best.
22

17: After leaving the Eid Prayer is it Sunnah to take a different road?
Jabir (Radi Allahu Anhu) narrated

When the prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa salam) went out to the Eid he took a
different road when leaving.
23


18: After I arrive home what is the Sunnah to do?
Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri (Radi Allahu Anhu) said:

The never prayer before the Eid, but when he returned home he would pray two
Rak'ah.
24



Translated and compiled by Abu Aaliyah Abdullah ibn Dwight Battle
Doha, Qatar, The Blessed Arabian Gulf
1435H

www.twitter.com/lamontbattle for tid-bit benefits of Fiqh / hadith which aren't added to Blog
page
www.Ashshariah.com publication website

22
Sharhu Ar-Risala 1/32
23
Sahih Al- Bukhari 986

24
Ibn Majah 3923 Ibn Hajar graded it as being Hasan in Fathul Bari and Al-Hakam graded it as being Sahih.