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| Eid prayers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Official name | صلاة العيد |
| Also called | Holidays prayer |
| Observed by | Muslims |
| Type | Islamic |
| Significance | A Muslim prayer offered to Allah yearly in Eids. |
| Begins | Duha |
| Ends | Zenith -Noon |
| Date | Cycles according to theIslamic lunar calendar |
| Frequency | Yearly |
| Related to | Salah,Friday Prayer,Eid al-Fitr,Eid al-Adha |
Eid prayers, also referred to asSalat al-Eid (Arabic:صلاة العيد), are holy holiday prayers in theIslamic tradition. The literal translation of the word "Eid" inArabic is "festival" or "feast" and is a time whenMuslims congregate with family and the largerMuslim community to celebrate.[1]
There are generally two central Eids that take place in accordance with theIslamic lunar calendar (hence the additional nameṢalāt al-’Īdayn (Arabic:صلاة العيدين "Prayer of the Two Eids"):
There is no set date for the Eid holidays, as it changes from year to year. This is due to the nature of thelunar calendar that calculates months based on the phases of the moon, unlike thesolarGregorian calendar that is used most widely today. The lunar calendar is about 11 days shorter than that of the Gregorian, and so the equivalent date shifts back about 11 days every year. This is true for other holidays, such as theChinese New Year orRosh Hashanah, that are also based on the lunar calendar.[8] The date normally varies in locations across the world, but many communities choose to follow the sighting reports of thecrescent moon inMecca for the sake of consistency.[9]
| Region/country | Language | Main | Romanised |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arab World | Arabic | صلاة العيد | Ṣalāh al-'Eid |
| Greater Albania | Albanian | Namazi i Bajramit | |
| Avaristan | Avar | ГІидалъул как | GÍidal"ul kak |
| Greater Persia | Persian,Dari,Tajik | نماز عيد,Намози ид | Namoz-i-Eid |
| Russia,Pakistan,IndiaMaldives | Hindustani,Punjabi,Russian,Sindhi,Dhivehi | عيد نماز,ईद नमाज़,Ид намаз,ޢީދު ނަމާދު | Eid namāz |
| China | Chinese | 會禮 | Huì lǐ |
| Turkey,Azerbaijan | Turkish,Azeri | Bayram namazı | |
| Balkans | Serbo-Croatian,Bosnian | Bajram-namaz | |
| Bashkortostan | Bashkir | Байрам намаҙҙары | Bayram namaz̦z̦ary |
| Kazakhstan | Kazakh | Айт намазы | Ayt namazı |
| Laksky,Kulinsky | Lak | Байрам-чак | Bayram-chak |
| Bengal | Bengali | ঈদের নামাজ | Eid er namaz |
| Sweden | Swedish | Eidbön | |
| Indonesia | Indonesian,Javanese | Salat Id | |
| Malaysia | Bahasa Melayu | Solat Sunat Hari Raya | |
| Kurdistan | Kurdish | نوێژی جێژن | |
| Pashtunistan | Pashto | د اختر لمونځ | |
| Tamil Nadu | Tamil | பெருநாள் தொழுகை | Perunal thozhugai |
| Zazaistan | Zazaki | Nemacê roşani |
The customary greeting on the days of Eid Festivals is "Eid Mubarak", meaning "Have a Blessed Eid" and is often accompanied by other forms of cultural greetings and customs.
Eid prayers are traditionally offered in an open space (such as aMusalla orEidgah) or field available for prayer if weather permits.[10] The technical appointed time of Salat Al-Eid, as specified by theQuran andSunnah (sayings, teachings, and actions ofMuhammad), begins when the sun reaches approximately three meters above the horizon - above the height of a spear, until itreaches its meridian - approaching itszenith. Generally speaking, it is recommended that the prayer is offered in the morning, anytime after sunrise and before noon.[11]
The time forEid al-Fitr prayer may be delayed while the prayer ofEid al-Adha is hastened. This is to ensure enough time to facilitate the distribution of theZakat before the prayer or offer sacrifice after, respectively. This has been a proved Sunnah and has been well recorded inHadith books.[7]
Specified times of the prayer vary according to localMasjids and larger communities may offer two prayers to allow as many people as possible the chance to make the prayer.
The degree of importance of the Eid prayer vary between differentMadhhab, or schools of Islamic thought. According toHanafi scholars, Salat al-Eid isWajib (obligatory). ToHanbali jurisprudence, it isFard (necessary; often synonymous with Wajib) and according toMaliki andShafiʽi schools, it is considered to beSunnah Al-Mu'akkadah ("confirmedSunnah, "continuously performed and never abandoned") but not mandatory.[12]
In addition to the actual praying of theSalah, another component of the Eid Prayers is the delivering of aKhutbah or Islamic sermon, like that given weekly on Fridays atJumu'ah (obligatory Friday prayers). While the sermon is delivered prior to the Salah for Jumu'ah, it is delivered after the Salah for Eid. This is in accordance with the narration byAbdullah ibn Umar that Muhammad performed Eid Prayers in this order.[13]
The Eid prayers also take place without the customary calling of theAdhan orIqama (arabic call to prayer), which is normally called before every Salah. This is per the traditional narration by Jabir sin Samurah, who had prayed Eid Salah behind Muhammad, and noted that the calls were not made.[13]
Another specific characteristic of the Eid prayer is the number ofTakbir, or calling of the phrase"Allahu Akbar" ("God is Great") performed in eachRakat (unit of prayer) of Salah. The Takbir for regular Salah (as well as most sunnah and special Salah) is called only once at the start with repetitions between steps of the prayer. According to Hadith narrated by 'Amr bin Shuaib over certified generations, Muhammad completed 7 takbirs in the first rakah of the Eid prayer and 5 in the second, then began with the recitation of theQuran.[14] The Hanafis complete 3 takbirs before reciting Quran in the first rak'ah and 3 takbirs after reciting Quran before prostrating.
To reap further rewards from praying the Eid, there are additional recommended steps that Muhammad did in his time according to hisSunnah that Muslims may perform. These include bathing orGhusl prior to attending the festival, dressing in one's best clothes, eating before theEid al-Fitr prayer and waiting until afterEid al-Adha prayer to eat, saying theTakbir to and from the place of Eid and after every prayer for the remaining days of the festival, as well as taking an alternative route home from the one taken to the prayer.[15]
Eid festivals are meant to be an event for all members of the Muslim community, including women and children. According to the Hadith narrated by theNusaybah Bint Al-Harith (Umm 'Atiyah), women, young and old, were called to come out and participate in the joy of Eid and reap its blessings.[16]
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