Chapter 14 - The Prayer of the Two 'Id Festivals

510. Aishah : narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, 'Breaking the fast at the end of Ramadan is (determined) when people break their fasr, and 'Idul Ad-ha (the 'Id of sacrifice), is (determined) when people offer their sacrifices.'{1} Related by at-Tirmidhi.

{1} Some scholars said that this hadith refers to the fact that one should start fasting and break his fast with the Muslim community, and do as they do. The same applies to the day of sacrifice.


511. Abu 'Umair bin Anas ibn Malik :radiallahuanh: narrated in the authority of some of his uncles from among the Companions of the Prophet that some riders came and testified that they had seen the crescent (of the moon) the previous night. Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah ordered the people to break their fast, and to go out to their praying place (where they pray the 'Id prayer) the next morning (to perform the 'id prayer in congregation).{2} Related by Ahmad and Abu Dawud, and the wording is his, with a sound chain of narrators.
{2} In the hadith there lies evidence tat it is possible to pray the 'Id prayer on the second day of 'Id, if people did not know that the crescent had already been seen, except after the time of prayer has passed, as in this hadith. It is also evidence that if one misses the 'Id prayer for any reason, he may go out and pray it the following day.


512. Anas : narrated, 'The Messenger of Allah would not go out on the Day of 'Idul Fitr (Festival of breaking the fast) until he hada eaten some dates.' Related by Al-Bukhari. In another narration by Ahmad, there is the additional phrase, 'He would eat an odd number of dates.'


513. Abu Buraida narrated on the authority of his father :, 'The Messenger of Allah would not go out on the Day of 'Idul Fitr, until he had eaten (something), and on the Day of 'Idul Ad-ha he would not eat unil he had returned from the prayer.'

514. Umm ‘Atiyah : related, ‘ We were ordered to come to the prayer of the two ‘Ids and (even bring out with us the young (virgin) girls (who had not yet reached puberty) and the menstruating women, so they might witness the good (seen) {3} and the takbir and supplications of the Muslims. However, the menstruating women would keep away from the praying place (i.e. stand to the side and watch).’ Agreed upon.

{3} Of performing the 'Id prayer in congregation, that everbody joins in including children, and women, except for the menstruating women.
515. Ibn ‘Umar :radiyallahunah: narrated, ‘The Messenger of Allah Abu Bakr and ‘Umar used to offer the two ‘Ids prayer before the Khutbah.’ Agreed upon.

516. Ibn ‘Abbas : narrated, ‘The Messenger of Allah , went out to the ‘Id prayer and prayed the two rak’at (of the ‘Id) and did not offer any other prayer before or after it.’ Related by the seven Imams.

517. Ibn ‘Abbas : narrated, ‘The Messenger of Allah offered the ‘Id prayer without calling for the Adhan or Iqamah.’ Related by Abu Dawud.

518. Abu Sa’id : narrated, ‘The Messenger of Allah never used to observe any prayer before the ‘Id prayer, but when he returned home, he would pray two rak’at.’ Related by Ibn Majah with a good chain of narrators.

519. Abu Sa’id : narrated, ‘On the Days of ‘Idul Fitr and ‘Idul Ad-ha, the Messenger of Allah would go out to the paying place, and the first thing that he started with was the ‘Id prayer, and when he had finished he would stand facing the people, while the people were sitting in rows, and he would admonish them and advise them. Agreed upon.

520. ‘Amro bin Shu’aib : on the authority of his father on the authority of his grandfather {4} (May Allah be pleased with all of them), narrated, ‘The Messenger of Allah would make seven Takbirat in the first rak’ah of the ‘Id prayer, and five Takbirat in the second, and then he would start reciting the Qur’an, after the Takbirat in ach rak’ah.’ Related by Abu Dawud.

{4} He is ‘Amro bin Shu’aib bin Muhammad bin ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amro bin Al-‘As.

521. Abu Waqid Al-Laithi : narrated, ‘The Messenger of Allah used to recite in the prayer of ‘Idul Ad-ha, “Qaf. By the Glorious Qur’an” (surah no. 50:1) and “The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has cleft asunder.” (surah no. 54:1). Related by Muslim.

522. Jabir : narrated, ‘On the days of the ‘Id, the Messenger of Allah would take different routes (i.e. would go to the prayer in one way, and return home in another.’ Related by Al-Bukhari.
523. Abu Dawud narrated a similar narration on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar.
524. Anas : narrated, ‘When the Messenger of Allah came to Madinah, they had two days of sport amusement. The Prophet said, “Allah, the Exalted has exchanged this days for two better than them; the day of sacrifice (‘Idul Ad-ha) and the day of breaking the fast (‘Idul Fitr).’ Related by Abu Dawud and an-Nasa’I with a sound chain of narrators.
525. ‘Ali : narrated, ‘It is an act of the Sunnah of the Prophet to go out to the ‘Id prayer walking.’ Related by At-Tirmidhi, who graded it as Hasan (good).
526. Abu Hurairah : narrated, ‘It was raining on the day of ‘Id, so the Prophet led them in the ‘Id prayer inside the mosque.’ {5}

{5} It is preferable to pray the ‘Id prayer in a place outside the city, in an open area, unless there is an excuse such as rain, in which case it could be prayed in the mosque. The Prophet prayed the two ‘Id prayers in the outskirts of Madinah.