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.
Eid is a happy day for Muslims. There are two Eids every year: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. On both Eids, we pray a special prayer called the Eid prayer to thank Allah.
The two Eids
- Eid al-Fitr comes right after Ramadan ends, on the 1st day of the month of Shawwal.On this Eid, Muslims also give a charity called Zakat al-Fitr.
- Eid al-Adha comes on the 10th day of the month of Dhul-Hijjah.On this Eid, Muslims also offer a sacrifice, called Qurbani.
The Eid prayer is wajib, you must do it, for everyone who must also do the Friday prayer.
12Eid (ʿīd) refers to a day of happiness. The two Eids of the Islamic year are Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha; on both, Allah's blessings upon His servants are marked by offering two rakats of prayer as an act of thanksgiving.
Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha
- Eid al-Fitr falls at the end of Ramadan, on the 1st of Shawwal. In addition to the prayer, Zakat al-Fitr is given.
- Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah. In addition to the prayer, the sacrifice (Qurbani) is offered.
The prayer of both Eids is wajib on everyone for whom the Friday (Jumu'ah) prayer is wajib.
12ʿĪd denotes a day of happiness. The two ʿīds of the sharʿī calendar are ʿĪd al-Fiṭr and ʿĪd al-Ḥajj (ʿĪd al-Aḍḥā); on each, the servant's thanks for Allah's blessing is expressed through two rakats of prayer, in addition to which each ʿīd carries its own further obligation.
| Point | Eid al-Fitr | Eid al-Adha |
|---|---|---|
| Date | 1 Shawwāl, immediately after Ramaḍān | 10 Dhū al-Ḥijjah |
| Further act tied to the day | Zakāt al-Fiṭr is given | The Qurbānī (sacrifice) is offered |
The prayer of both Eids is wājib on everyone upon whom Jumuʿah is wājib: that is, everyone bound by the same conditions of residence, freedom, health, and so on that make the Friday prayer binding.
12This is the English translation of Nisab Ahle Khidmaat Sharia, exactly as the book has it, for the passages this page was written from. About 122 words. Switch back to Guide for the rewritten version.
Rulings of Eid Prayers 1. Definition of Eid
(1) Eid refers to a day of happiness, and the two Eids are Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha [These two days are celebrations and days of happiness in Islam. Since Allah's blessings are granted to His servants on these days, it is obligatory to offer two Rak'ahs of prayer as a thankfulness.].(2) Eid al-Fitr is the Eid that occurs at the end of the month of Ramadan on the 1st of Shawwal, where in addition to the prayer, Zakat al-Fitr is also given.(3) Eid al-Adha is the Eid that occurs on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah, where in addition to the prayer, the sacrifice (Qurbani) is also offered.
Rulings of Eid Prayers 2. The Obligation of Eid Prayers
The prayers of both Eids are obligatory (Wajib) for those upon whom Jumu'ah is obligatory.
Terms on this page
Related
- 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).
- 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 rulings of the Eid sermon The Eid sermon (khutbah) follows the Friday sermon's rules with three exceptions: no sitting first, an opening and closing takbir, and its own subject matter.