Eid al-Fitr

Anas (ra) said: When the Prophet (saw) came to Madinah, the people had two days they used to celebrate. He (saw) said: "Allah has replaced them for you with two days that are better: the day of al-Adha and the day of al-Fitr." (Sunan Abu Dawud 1134, Sunan al-Nasa'i 1556, graded sahih).

"He wants for you ease and does not want for you hardship, and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that to which He has guided you, and perhaps you will be grateful." (Quran 2:185). Eid is the day to complete the count and glorify Allah.

The Prophet (saw) permitted the young women of Madinah to come out for the Eid prayer, including menstruating women (who would witness the gathering and dua but not pray): "Let them join in the goodness and the supplication of the Muslims." (Sahih Bukhari 324, Sahih Muslim 890).

The Prophet (saw) commanded that Zakat al-Fitr be paid before the people went out to the Eid prayer. (Sahih Bukhari 1509). One sa' of staple food (or its monetary value, per Hanafi and many contemporary scholars) for each member of the household.

Ibn Umar (ra) used to bathe on the day of Eid before going out to the musalla. (Muwatta Malik). The Prophet (saw) had a special cloak he wore for Eid and Jumu'ah. (Sahih Bukhari 948). Apply perfume.

"The Prophet (saw) would not go out on the day of Eid al-Fitr until he had eaten some dates, and he would eat an odd number." (Sahih Bukhari 953). For Eid al-Adha, he did not eat until he returned from the prayer.

"The Prophet (saw) would go out on the day of Eid al-Fitr and recite the takbir until he came to the musalla and until the prayer was performed. When the prayer was performed, he would stop." (Reported by al-Bayhaqi; consistent with the practice of the Companions). The takbir is: Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, la ilaha illa Allah, Allahu akbar Allahu akbar wa lillahi al-hamd.

"The Prophet (saw) used to go out to the musalla on the day of Eid by one route and return by another." (Sahih Bukhari 986).

The Prophet (saw) prayed Eid in the open musalla outside Madinah, not in the masjid (Sahih Bukhari 956). The Hanafi madhab also prefers the musalla. If conditions prevent it, the masjid is sound.

The Eid prayer is two rakahs in total, prayed in congregation, after sunrise and before Zawal.

The Prophet (saw) and the rightly-guided caliphs prayed Eid without adhan or iqamah. (Sahih Muslim 887). Some places call out "as-salah jami'ah" but no adhan is given.

Both rakahs include extra takbirs in addition to the takbiratul ihram. The exact count differs slightly by madhab; see "Per-Madhab Rulings" below.

The imam recites Surah al-Fatihah and a surah aloud. The Sunnah was Surah al-A'la (87) in the first rakah and al-Ghashiyah (88) in the second, or Qaf (50) and al-Qamar (54). (Sahih Muslim 891 and 878).

The Eid prayer is performed first, then the khutbah. (Sahih Bukhari 956). Listening to the khutbah is recommended; some scholars consider leaving disliked.

Hanafi: cannot be made up individually. Other schools: it is recommended to pray it individually as you would have prayed it in congregation. The Prophet (saw) said: "Whoever misses the Eid prayer should pray two rakahs." (Reported in Bukhari ta'liq, near hadith 989).

Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar, lā ilāha illā Allāh, Allāhu akbar Allāhu akbar, wa lillāhi al-ḥamd. (Reported from Ibn Mas'ud and Ibn Abbas; sahih chain in al-Bayhaqi.)

Some Companions narrate "Allāhu akbar" three times before "lā ilāha illā Allāh"; both forms are reported and acceptable.

The Prophet (saw) made it obligatory to pay before the prayer. Paying after the prayer turns it into ordinary sadaqah. (Sunan Abu Dawud 1609, Sunan Ibn Majah 1827).

It is haram to fast on Eid al-Fitr. (Sahih Bukhari 1992).

Eid is built around the prayer and the takbir, not just food. Don't skip the prayer to sleep in.

The poor should also have a happy Eid. The whole point of Zakat al-Fitr is "so that none asks on the day of Eid." (Reported by al-Daraqutni).

On 1 Shawwal, the day after the last day of Ramadan, determined by sighting the new moon (or by calculation per the contemporary practice of some councils).

A Sunnah: "Whoever fasts Ramadan and follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he fasted the whole year." (Sahih Muslim 1164). They cannot be on Eid day itself.

The Companions greeted each other with: "Taqabbal Allāhu minnā wa minkum" (May Allah accept it from us and from you). Reported by al-Bayhaqi with a sahih chain.

Yes. The Prophet (saw) commanded women to come out for Eid, including menstruating women (who witness the gathering and the dua but stay away from the prayer area). (Sahih Bukhari 324).

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ, لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ, اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ, وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ

Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar, lā ilāha illā Allāh, Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar, wa lillāhi al-ḥamd

Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest. There is no god but Allah. Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest. And to Allah belongs all praise.

تَقَبَّلَ اللَّهُ مِنَّا وَمِنْكُمْ

Taqabbal Allāhu minnā wa minkum

May Allah accept it from us and from you.