Missing and postponing the Eid prayer
What to do about a missed Eid prayer, when it may be delayed to another day, and how it interacts with voluntary (nafl) prayers, a funeral, or the Friday prayer (Jumu'ah).
Sometimes the Eid prayer cannot be held on time, or a person misses it. Here is what the rules say about that, and about a few other things that can happen around Eid.
If Eid could not be prayed on its day
- This can happen for a real reason, for example, it was raining, or the new moon was only confirmed too late in the day, or the sky was cloudy and people only realised afterwards that they had prayed at the wrong time.
- If this happens on Eid al-Fitr, the prayer is prayed the next day instead.
- If this happens on Eid al-Adha, the prayer can still be prayed up to the 12th of Dhul-Hijjah.
A few more rules
- It is fine to hold the Eid prayer in more than one mosque in the same city, though praying at the Eid ground is still better.
- Delaying Eid al-Adha to the third day is allowed but not liked. Eid al-Fitr should not be delayed without a real reason.
- Praying extra (nafl) prayers before the Eid prayer is discouraged. Praying nafl after the Eid prayer, at home, is encouraged.This is only for people who must pray the Eid prayer. Women, and others who are not required to pray it, should not be stopped from praying nafl.
- If there is a funeral on the day of Eid, pray the Eid prayer first, then the funeral prayer, then listen to the Eid sermon.
- If Eid and Friday (Jumu'ah) fall on the same day, both prayers must still be prayed.
It is recommended for a person who has missed the Eid prayer to offer four rakats of Chasht prayer.
It is permissible to offer the Eid prayer in multiple mosques within a city, though offering it in a mosque instead of the Eid ground still goes against the established sunnah.
1If the Eid prayer cannot be offered on the day of Eid for a valid reason (such as rain; the moon not having been sighted, with news of the sighting arriving only after midday, or too close to midday for people to gather in time; or a cloudy day on which the prayer was offered but, once the clouds cleared, it turned out to have been prayed at the wrong time), the following applies.
| Eid | Latest day it may be prayed |
|---|---|
| Eid al-Fitr | The second day (i.e. the day after Eid) |
| Eid al-Adha | Up to the 12th of Dhul-Hijjah (the third day) |
Delaying Eid al-Adha to the third day is permitted, though disliked; Eid al-Fitr should not be delayed without a valid excuse. Either Eid may be prayed at any point from full sunrise until just before zawal.
Praying nafl before the Eid prayer is discouraged, whether at home or at the Eid ground. Praying nafl after the Eid prayer at home is encouraged.
1If a funeral prayer is due at the same time as Eid, the Eid prayer is performed first, followed by the funeral prayer, and only then the Eid khutbah.
If Eid and Jumu'ah fall on the same day, both prayers must be performed.
1It is mustaḥabb for one who has missed the ʿīd ṣalāh to offer four rakats of ṣalāt aḍ-ḍuḥā (chāsht) in its place.
Offering the ʿīd ṣalāh in more than one mosque within a single city is permissible, although holding it in a mosque rather than the muṣallā (Eid ground) still runs contrary to the established sunnah.
1Where the ʿīd ṣalāh cannot be offered on its day for a genuine excuse (rain; the new moon confirmed only after zawāl, or so close to it that the people cannot be gathered in time; or a day of cloud on which the ṣalāh was offered and, once the sky cleared, was found to have fallen outside its window), it is treated as follows.
| Eid | Latest day it may still be prayed |
|---|---|
| Eid al-Fitr | The second day |
| Eid al-Adha | Up to the 12th of Dhū al-Ḥijjah (the third day) |
Delaying Eid al-Adha as far as the third day is permitted, though makrūh; Eid al-Fitr should not be delayed without a genuine excuse. The permitted window for either remains from full sunrise until just before zawāl.
Ṣalāt an-nafl before the ʿīd ṣalāh is disliked, whether performed at home or at the Eid ground; nafl after the ʿīd ṣalāh, at home, is encouraged.
1Where a janāzah (funeral) prayer coincides with ʿīd, the order is: the ʿīd ṣalāh first, then the janāzah prayer, and only after that the ʿīd khutbah.
Where ʿīd and Jumuʿah fall on the same day, both must be performed; neither is dispensed with on account of the other.
1This is the English translation of Nisab Ahle Khidmaat Sharia, exactly as the book has it, for the passages this page was written from. About 360 words. Switch back to Guide for the rewritten version.
Rulings of Eid Prayers 8. Rules Regarding Eid Prayers
Note: It is recommended for a person who missed Eid prayer to offer four rak’ah of Chasht prayer.(18) It is permissible to offer the Eid prayer in multiple mosques within a city [However, offering Eid prayer in a mosque, instead of the Eid ground, goes against the established Sunnah.].(19) If the Eid prayers cannot be offered on the day of Eid due to a valid reason, such as: 1. It is raining. 2. The moon was not sighted, and the news of its sighting comes after midday or at a time before midday when it is too late for people to gather for prayer. 3. On a cloudy day, the prayer was offered, but once the clouds cleared, it was realized that the prayer was performed at the wrong time.
In such cases, the Eid-ul-Fitr prayer can be offered on the second day, and the Eid-ul-Adha prayer can be offered until the third day, i.e., up to the 12th of Dhul-Hijjah [In such a case, this prayer will be considered Qadha (missed).].
(20) It is permitted, though disliked, to delay Eid al-Adha prayers until the third day, but Eid al-Fitr should not be delayed without a valid excuse [Meaning, one can offer Eid prayer anytime between the time the sun has fully risen until the time before it reaches Zawal.].(21) Praying Nafl before Eid prayer is discouraged, whether in the home or in the Eid ground, but praying Nafl after the Eid prayer at home is encouraged [However, it is disliked to perform the Eid prayer in a mosque after the Eid ground, except in cases of rain.].(Notice) This ruling applies mainly to those who are bound to perform the Eid prayer. Others (like women or those for whom the Eid prayer is not obligatory) should not be prohibited from praying Nafl [For the common people often show disinterest in good deeds during such times; if they are prevented, they may altogether abandon the act.].(22) If there is a funeral prayer during Eid, the Eid prayer should be performed first, followed by the funeral prayer and then the Eid khutbah.(23) If Eid and Jumu’ah coincide, both prayers must be performed.
Related
- What is Eid? The obligation of the Eid prayers What Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are, and why the two Eid prayers are necessary (wajib) on the same people as the Friday prayer.
- The times of the Eid prayers The Eid prayer's window runs from shortly after sunrise until just before midday, and the two Eids are best prayed at opposite ends of it.
- The etiquettes of Eid day The recommended acts of Eid day, from the full bath (ghusl) and best clothes to the words of praise (takbir) said on the way, and how Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha differ.
- The method of offering the Friday sermon and prayer The units (rak'ahs) of the Friday prayer (Jumu'ah) in order, the intention to use, who may lead, and step by step how the imam moves from the sermon into the prayer.