10 Fascinating Facts About Eid Prayer
There are several important aspects related to Eid prayer that were established by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Below are some of these significant points:
Preparation Before Eid Prayer
Muslims are encouraged to follow certain practices before performing the Eid prayer, including both obligatory and Sunnah actions as detailed below:
- It is recommended that Muslims take a ritual bath known as the ‘Ghusal’ for Eid, apply scented perfume, and maintain personal hygiene. Additionally, using a miswak (tooth stick) is encouraged.
- Muslims should wear their best and cleanest clothing for the occasion.
- It is preferable for Muslims to break their fast with some dates before going out for Eid al-Fitr, a practice exemplified by the Prophet (peace be upon him). Conversely, for Eid al-Adha, it is better to refrain from eating until after the prayer, so that they can partake of the sacrifice or other meals afterward.
En Route to Eid Prayer
There are several recommended practices derived from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) that should be followed while heading to the Eid prayer:
- It is commendable to walk to the Eid prayer calmly, taking a different route for return. It is also recommended to arrive early and position oneself close to the imam, as this brings reward for being punctual.
- The Eid prayer is ideally performed in open areas outside of towns. Prayer in a mosque is permissible only in cases where circumstances prevent gathering in the designated outdoor areas, such as rain.
- As Muslims make their way to the prayer, it is Sunnah to recite takbir (praises to Allah), stating: “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, wa lillahi al-hamd,” while repeating these phrases.
During the Eid Prayer
Several etiquettes and Sunnah practices should be observed during the Eid prayer, including the following:
- The Eid prayers, both for Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, do not involve an adhan (call to prayer) or iqamah (second call). There is no record of the Prophet (peace be upon him) having called for either when establishing the Eid prayer, nor has he instructed to say “As-salatu jaami’a” when preparing for the Eid prayer.
- For the Eid prayer to be valid, a minimum of three attendees is required. If only two Muslims are present in a location, the Eid prayer is not obligatory for them.
- The Eid prayer is held before the sermon as narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), stating: “I attended Eid with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman (may Allah be pleased with them), and they all prayed before the sermon.” This contrasts with the Friday prayer, where the sermon precedes the prayer.
- There should be no prayers performed before or after the Eid prayer, as it has been established through the tradition of the Prophet (peace be upon him) that this is not permitted.
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