The Description of the ‘Eid Prayer and its Takbīrs

A’ishah (radiyallāhu anhā) said: “In both Fitr and Adhā prayers, Allah’s Messenger would make seven takbīrs in the first rak’ah and five in the second ―and these were other than the ones for entering into rukū’.” (Abu Dawūd, no. 1149, authenticated by Al-Albāni) 

Also, Katheer bin Abdillāh narrated from this father, from his grandfather who said: “The Prophet said the Takbir in the first rak’ah seven times before the recitation and in the last rak’ah, five times before the recitation.” (At-Tirmidhi, no. 536, declared sahih by Al-Albāni).

Based on this narration, Imām Al-Baghawi (died 516) concluded: “This is saying of the majority of the scholars among the Sahābah and those who came after them, that he would make seven takbīrs in the first rak’ah after the opening takbir of the prayer. In the second ra’kah, he would make five takbīrs after the takbir for standing, and he would say them before the recitation. 

This has been reported from Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Ali, Ibn ‘Umar, Ibn ‘Abbās, Abu Hurayrah, Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri –and this is the saying of the people of Madinah, and it is the saying of Az-Zuhri, ‘Umar bin ‘Abdul-Azeez, Mālik, Al-Awzā’ee, Ash-Shāfi’ee Ahmad and Ishāq.” (See Sharhus-Sunnah of Al-Baghawi, 2/606)

Some of the scholars have stated (among them, Shaikh Al-Fawzān and Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaimīn) that six takbīrs are said in the first rak’ah after the opening takbīr ―and after the opening du’ā but before seeking refuge and reciting Al-Fātihah.

The opening takbīr of the prayer is a pillar and cannot be left and the prayer is not valid unless it is said. The rest of the takbīrs (before Al-Fātihah) are Sunnah, not obligatory.

So after the opening takbīr, you recite the opening du’ā of the prayer as normal ―then the additional seven takbīrs are recited. Then straight after the seventh takbīr, you seek refuge with Allah as in the normal prayers because this is seeking of refuge before the recitation of Surah Al-Fātihah ―and Suratul-Fātihah begins with the bismillāh. After Surah Al-Fātihah, recite another Surah.

In the second rak’ah, stand up from the prostration (sajdah) with the utterance of takbīr. 

After that, you recite a further five takbīrs, then the bismillāh, then Surah Al-Fātihah, then another Surah.

Share: