1. The Eid Salah consists of two rakaats with six extra takbeers, and is Wajib (essential) for those males upon whom Jumu’ah Salah is essential. This means that Eid Salah would be essential on every Muslim male, who has reached the age of puberty; is not a traveler; free ( not a slave); and is not sick to the extent that it makes it unable for him to perform the Eid Salah.

 

The Eid Salah is not essential upon women and children under the age of puberty. However, if they perform it and listen to the Khutbah, it will be valid/acceptable, and they shall be rewarded for it.

Eid Salah officially starts from approximately 20 minutes after sunrise and continues until a little before Zawal (when the sun is in its zenith). One should not begin the Salah at its earliest time, but should delay it a little from its beginning time.

 

Eid Salah is performed only with a congregation and cannot be performed individually. There must be at least four adult males for it to be performed. One among them will be the Imam and the others will be followers.

 

  1. It is essential that both Imam and followers make the proper Niyah (intention) for the Eid Salah. The intention must be firmly established in the heart that one is performing two rakaats of Eid – ul- Fitr Salah which is Wajib, and consists of six extra wajib takbeer, for the sake of Allah. The Imam must make the intention of leading the congregation and the followers must make the intention of following the Imam.

 

It is also permissible and at times, commendable and advisable to express one’s intention with the tongue. In this case, the followers (males and females) will say:-

 

‘I intend to perform two rakaats of Eid-ul-Fitr Salah which is wajib, with six extra takbeer, following the Imam, for the sake of Allah’

 

The Imam (leader of the Eid Salah) will say:-

 

‘I intend to perform two rakaats of Eid-ul-Fitr Salah with six extra takbeers, leading this congregation, for the sake of Allah.

 

  1. There is no Adhan and Iqamah for the Eid Salah, and it will begin as soon as the lines are formed. The lines/rows will be formed in the following manner to begin the Salah:-

The Imam will stand ahead of everyone. Then the adult males and those who have reached the age of puberty will stand behind him in the first line/row. Male children will

then stand behind the male adults. Women and girls who have reached the age of puberty will stand behind the male children, and young girls who have not reached the  age of puberty will stand behind the adult females. (Generally, males and females will perform Salah in their respective ‘prayer areas’ in places where such areas are designated for them).

 

  1. When the lines/rows are properly well formed, the Imam will say the Takbeer ( Allahu Akbar) in a loud manner that everyone can hear. While doing so, he will raise his hands to the level of the ears and fold them (as he does in Salah). This Takbeer is known as Takbeer Tahreemah and is essential to say while beginning Salah. Therefore, the followers must also say this Takbeer and lift their hands to the level of the ears. They will then fold their hands as they normally do in Salah.

 

  1. After saying the Takbeer Tahreemah and folding the hands, each person (the Imam and the followers) must recite the ‘Thana’ which is:-

 

Subhaana kaallahumma wa bihamdika wa Tabaraa kasmuka wa Ta’ala Judduka wa laa ilaha Ghairuk.

 

  1. After Thana, the Imam will raise his hands to the level of the ears and say Allahu Akbar. He will do this action three times. Between each Takbeer, he would pause for a short while to the extent that he can say Subhaanallah three times. After saying the first and second Takbeer, he must let his hands rest at his sides, and after saying the third Takbeer, he must fold his hands as he does in Salah. The followers will do the same as the Imam, and also say the Takbeer softly.

 

 

  1. After the third Takbeer, the Imam will read the ‘Ta’awudh’ which is A’oudhu billahi minash Shaitanir Rajeem, and also the ‘Bismillah’ which is Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem. He will recite both of these in a silent manner, and then begin the recitation of Sura Al Fatiha with another Surah in a loud manner The followers will listen attentively to the recitation of the Imam while in Salah.

 

  1. After the recitation of the Quran, the Imam will say Allahu Akbar and go into Ruku where he will recite the Tasbeeh of Ruku. The followers will do the same after the Imam.

 

The Imam will then say ‘Sami’allahu liman hamida’ and rise from Ruku to the standing posture. The followers shall also rise from Ruku with the Imam, and while  going to the standing posture,  say ‘Rabana lakal Hamd’.

 

  1. The Imam will then say Allahu Akbar and go into the Sajdah posture. He will perform two Sajdahs in the same manner he does in Salah, and go straight up into the standing posture for the second rakaat. The followers will do the same as the Imam, ensuring that their actions are not done before the Imam.

 

  1. While in the standing posture of the second rakaat, the Imam will recite Sura Al Fatiha and another Surah in a loud manner. After completing his recitation, he will say the Takbeer three times with a short pause between them. While saying each Takbeer, he will raise his hands to the level of his ears and drop them at his sides. The followers will do the same as the Imam.

 

 

  1. After completing the recital of the three extra Takbeers in the second rakaat, the Imam will say another Takbeer and go into the Ruku posture. The followers will also do the same.

 

  1. The Imam will then complete the Ruku and two Sajdahs of the second rakaat, along with the recitation of the At-Tahiyaat, Darood and Dua, and complete the Salah with two Salaams. The followers shall follow him in all these actions, while reciting the At Tahiyaat, Darood and Dua, and also say the two Salaams softly. After completing the Salah, it is desirable for the Imam to make dua with the congregation since it is a blessed day on which duas are accepted. Duas  at this time however, should not be lengthy so as to create a long pause between the Eid Salah and Khutbah.

 

  1. After the Salah, the Imam will deliver the two Khutbahs for Eid-ul-Fitr, and the followers must listen to these Khutbahs.

 

 

  1. Both Khutbahs are to be given in the Arabic language with a pause between the two. While delivering the Khutbah, the Imam will stand in front of the congregation, facing them. No Adhan shall be given in front of him, as it occurs for Jumu’ah Salah.

 

 

  1. The Imam will begin the 1st Arabic Khutbah for Eid-ul-Fitr by reciting the Takbeer (of Allahu Akbar) nine times consecutively and then start with the Arabic Khutbah.

 

He can then give a short advice in English or any other language. After this, he will sit for a pause, and then stand facing the congregation again to begin the second Arabic Khutbah.

 

Like the first, the Imam should begin the second Arabic Khutbah by reciting  the Takbeer (of Allahu Akbar) seven times consecutively, and then start with the Arabic Khutbah. At the ending part of the second Khutbah, the Imam should recite the Takbeer fourteen times and then close his Khutbah.

 

(Note : It is also allowed/acceptable for the Imam or the one selected to do the Eid –ul- Fitr Salah/Khutbah, to give a short talk/advice/bayan, prior to the Eid Salah when the people have gathered. After this, he will go into the performance of the Eid Salah and then deliver the two Arabic Khutbahs, while taking a short break/pause between the two).

 

If for some reason, a person on whom  Eid Salah became essential (Wajib), could not perform the Eid Salah due to missing the congregation (for Eid Salah) or not having  sufficient amount of people for the Eid Salah, then if he wishes, he can perform four Nafl (optional) rakaats like that of Salah Adh Dhuha at that time in the morning. This will not be a replacement for Eid Salah, nor will it be Qadha for it, but this can be done in order to achieve blessings and rewards, since one did not get the opportunity to perform the Eid Salah.

 

And Allah Knows best

Mufti Waseem Khan

27th Ramadhan 1442 AH

10th May 2021.