Eid Prayer
The two main festivals in Islam are Eid-ul-fitr and Eid-ul-Azha. Eid means recuring happiness or festival. Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated on the 1st Of Shawwal which follows Ramazan or the month of Fasting. Eid-ul-Azha falls on the tenth day of ZilHaj and follows the completion of Hajj.
Eid is a day of thanksgiving during which Muslims assemble in a brotherly and joyful atmosphere to offer their thanks to Allah for helping them to fulfil their spiritual obligations. The Eid day starts With congregational prayer. in the morning. During the prayer, the Muslims remember and glorify Allah’s name, and ask for His forgiveness and for strength of faith.
The method of prayer for Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha is the same Eid-prayers are Wajib on all those persons on whom Friday prayers are obligatory. These are congregational prayers and cannot be said individually. Eid prayers are not a substitute for the obligatory Fajr prayer and there is no Qaza for Eid prayer. The time for Eid prayer is anytime after sunrise but before noon. Usually, Eid-ul-Azha prayers are held a little earlier than the Eid-ul-Fitr prayer. No Azaan or lqamat is required. The prayer consists of two Raka’at with the Imam reciting in each, Surah Fatihah and another passage from the Quran in an audible voice.
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The intention for prayer is in these words:
“I intend to offer two Raka’at Wajib of Eid-ul-Fitr / Eid-ul-Azha (as the case may be) with six additional Takbirs, behind this Imam and I am facing the Holy Ka’abah.”
When the Imam recites Takbir-e-Tahrima, Allahu-Akbar in a loud voice, the Muqtadis should also say the Takbir in a low voice, and fold their hands below their navel as in other prayers. Both the Imam and the Mugtadis now recite the Sana in a low voice. After reciting Sana, the Imam raises both hands upto the ears and says, the Takbir i.e., Allahu Akbar in a loud voice. The Muqtadis also raise their hands upto the ears and say the Takbir in a low voice.
The Imam and the Muqtadis should then lower their hands and keep them hanging by their sides. They should repeat this, that is, saying of Takbir and raising and lowering of hands twice. After the third Takbir, the hands are to be folded in the usual manner. The Imam shall now recite Tasmiyah, Surah Fatihah and some other Surah. The Muqtadis should listen attentively and not recite anything. They should only say Ameen’ in a low voice after Surah Fatihah. After this, the first Rakat should be completed in the usual manner.
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‣ Weekly Prayer Day Night Prayer
In the second Rakat, the Imam recites Tasmiyah, Surah Fatihah and some other Surah The Muqtadis should only listen attentively and just say Ameen after Surah Fatihah. After this, the Imam raises his hands and recites the Takbir in a loud voice. The Muqtadis also raise their hands and say the Takbir in a low voice. They should now bring their hands down and keep them hanging by their sides. The hands should be raised and lowered and the Takbir said two more times. Both the Imam and the Muqtadis now say one more Takbir without raising their hands and bow down for Ruku. The second Rakat should be completed in the usual manner.
After the two Raka’at of prayer are over, the Imam delivers the Khutba in two parts, with a short break in between. The Khutba is Sunnat and should be heard attentively.
In the sermon of Eid-ul-Fitr, the Imam must draw the attention of the audience to Sadaqah-ul-Fitr. This is a charity, which is obligatory on every Muslim who can afrord it. This charity is more rewarding and preferable if it is distribued before the prayers, so that the poor may also be able to celebrate the day in a festive and cheerful spirit.
In the sermon of Eid-ul-Azha, the Imam should draw attention to the duty of sacrifice, which is to be observed by every Muslim with means. It is preferable to slaughter the animal of sacrifice on Eid day after prayers. The sacrifice of an animal on second on third day of Eid is also acceptable.
