Eidul Fitr - Its Etiquette, Greeting, and Prayer

  • Eidul Fitr is the celebration that marks the end of Ramadan fasting. 
  • Eidul Fitr is always on the first day of the month of Shawwal (the month after Ramadan).  
  • The main event on this day is the observance of the Eid prayer. It is from the sunnah for the Eid prayer to be prayed in a musalla (wide open space outside). Later on in the day families generally do activities together including playing games, sports, eating, and visiting neighbors, friends, and other family.
The following are resources I have collected/made to help learn about and observe the day of Eid and the Eid prayer.

The Day of Eid & The Eid Prayer - Obligations, Sunan & Celebration


Preparing for the Eid Prayer/Setting Out for the Eid Prayer

1. Eat before the Eid Prayer:
Anas (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wasallam) would not set out in the morning of Eid ul Fitr until he had eaten some dates(Bukhari)
2. Bathing before the Eid Prayer:
There is no "authentically reported" sunnah from the Prophet (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) according to "The Rulings Concerning the Two Eids."
However, it is preferred and it is a sunnah of the Companions (that is, their way and guidance).."ibn Umar (radia Allahu anhumaa) used to bathe on the day of Fitr." ("The Rulings Concerning the Two Eids" by Shaykh Abul Haarith 'Alee Hasan 'Alee Abdul Hameed)
3. Going to the Musalla, Returning a different way
"When it was the day of Eid, the Prophet (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) use to alter his route (of returning). (Bukhari)

Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim al Jaqzeeyah said:
"The Prophet (salla Allahu alayhi was sallam) used to change his route on the days of Eid, such that he went by one route and returned by another. It is said (he did this)to give salaam upon the people of both routes. Or so that both groups get some of his blessings. Or so that anybody who has a need can take care of it. Or to make manifest the ritual of Islaam....("The Rulings Concerning the Two Eids" by Shaykh Abul Haarith 'Alee Hasan 'Alee Abdul Hameed)

Eid Greetings

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Shaykh ul Islaam Ibn Taymeeyah, when asked about the greeting/congratulations of Eid said:

"As for the greeting on the day of Eid, then it is by saying to one another when meeting after the prayer:

Taqabbala Allahu minnaa wa minkum wa ahaala Allahu alayka
May Allah accept it from you and us and other things of this nature.

Ibn Qudaamah reported in Al Mugnee that Muhammad ibn Iyaad said: "I was with Abi Umamah al Baahilee and other companions of the Prophet (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam and when they returned from the Eid they said to each other:
Taqabbala Allahu minnaa wa minkum - May Allah accept it from you and us

Source: "The Rulings Concerning the Two Eids from the Purified Sunnah"

The Eid Prayer

It is the Sunnah to Pray the Eid Prayer in a Musalla

Praying Eid in the Musalla is Sunnah (PDF), a treatise by Shaykh Albanee  - link fixed 5/30/2016,



Description of the Eid Prayer
The Description of The Eid prayer, Number of Rakats and The Eid Takbirs
See Fataawa Arkaan al-Islam by Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy o­n him), p. 398;Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 8/300-316).

The Eid prayer is o­ne where the imam attends and leads the people in praying two rak’ahs. ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The prayer of al-Fitr is two rak’ahs and the prayer of al-Adha is two rak’ahs, complete and not shortened, o­n the tongue of your Prophet, and the o­ne who fabricates lies is doomed.” Narrated by al-Nasaa’i, 1420 and Ibn Khuzaymah. Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Nasaa’i.

It was narrated that Abu Sa’eed said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to come out o­n the day of al-Fitr and al-Adha to the prayer place, and the first thing he would do was to offer the prayer. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 956

In the first rak’ah he should say Takbeerat al-ihraam (say “Allaahu akbar” to start the prayer), after which he should say six or seven more takbeers, because of the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her), “The takbeer of al-Fitr and al-Adha is seven takbeers in the first rak’ah and five takbeers in the second, apart from the takbeer of rukoo’.” Narrated by Abu Dawood and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel, 639.

Then he should recite al-Faatihah, and recite Soorat Qaf in the first rak’ah. In the second rak’ah he should stand up saying takbeer, and when he has stood up completely he should say takbeer five times, and recite Soorat al-Faatihah then Soorat al-Qamr. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to recite these two soorahs during the two Eids. Or if he wishes he can recite Soorat al-A’la in the first rak’ah and Soorat al-Ghaashiyah in the second, because it was narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to recite al-A’la and al-Ghaashiyah in the Eid prayer.

The imam should revive the Sunnah be reciting these soorahs so that the Muslims will become familiar with the Sunnah.

After the prayer, the imam should address the people. Part of the khutbah should be addressed specifically to the women, telling them of the things that they should do and warning them against the things that they should avoid, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to do.


  • Status of Eid Prayer in Islam
  • No prayer before or after Eid prayer
  • Time of the Eid prayer
  • Late report of crescent sighting
  • No athan or iqaamah
  • Description of the Eid Prayer
  • Eid Khutbah
  • When the Eid falls on a Friday

Some Rulings Pertaining to the Eid Prayer:

What do you do if you are late/miss the Eid Prayer?

From Saheeh Bukhari:  "If one misses the Eid (prayer) he should pray two rakahs." (to make it up)

When Eid Falls on a Friday

If the Eid Coincides With the Day of Al-Jumu ah – Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen

Is Eidul Fitr 1 or 3 Days?

Listen to "Is 'Eed al-Fitr Three Days or Just One? [Confusion Ended]" on Spreaker.

Can We Give Gifts for Eid?

Question answered by Shaykh Fawzaan


Eid Decorations, Coloring Pages, & Printables


Related:




The Two Eid - The Takbeer and a Few Other Issues

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