By Hadhrat Mawlānā Muhammad Saleem Dhorat hafizahullāh

Night of 'Īd

The nights of both 'Īds are described in the hadīth as amongst the great and sacred nights in the Muslim calendar. To remain awake on the nights of 'Īd and perform 'ibādah is a source of great virtue and reward.
Mu'ādh ibn Jabal radhiyallāhu 'anhu relates that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam said:
"Jannah is wājib (incumbent) for those who stay awake with the intention of making 'ibādah on the following nights: 8th & 9th, the night of 'Īd-ul-Adhā (10th of Dhul Hijjah), the night of 'Īd-ul-Fitr and the night of the 15th of Sha'bān." (At-Targhīb)

Udhiyah (Qurbānī)

Udhiyah is a practice commanded by Allāh ta'ālā:
"...so turn in prayer towards your Lord and sacrifice (animals)." (108:2)
'Ā'ishah radhiyallāhu 'anhā said:
"There is nothing more dearer to Allāh during the days of Udhiyah than the sacrificing of animals. The sacrificed animal shall come on the Day of Judgement with its horns, hair and hooves (to be weighed). The sacrifice is accepted by Allāh before the blood reaches the ground. Therefore sacrifice with an open heart." (At-Tirmidhī, Ibn Mājāh)

Sunnahs on the day of 'Īd


  1. To rise early.
  2. To clean the teeth with miswāk.
  3. To have a masnūn bath.
  4. To dress in one's best garments in an Islāmic manner.
  5. To use 'itr.
  6. To avoid eating before 'Īd salāh.
  7. To go early for 'Īd salāh.
  8. To go walking for 'Īd salāh.
  9. To read the Takbīrāt of Tashrīq in a loud voice while going for 'Īd salāh. Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, Lā ilāha illallāhu wallāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, Walil lāhil hamd.
  10. To use different routes to and from the place of 'Īd salāh.
  11. To eat the meat of Udhiyah (sacrifice) of one's own offering, after the 'Īd-ul-Adhā salāh.
  12. Mas'alah: It is harām to fast on the 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th Dhul Hijjah, (i.e. 'Īd day and three days after) and the day of 'Īd-ul-Fitr.

The Method of 'Īd Salāh

1. Make niyyah of performing two raka'āt wājib of 'Īd-ul-Adhā behind the imām with six wājib takbīr.
2. The first takbīr in the first rak'at is the takbīr tahrīmah which is followed by three wājib takbīr. Raise your hands to the ears in all four takbīr (saying the takbīr). However, after the first takbīr fold the hands under the naval and read thanā (subhānakallāhumma). Thereafter, in the following two takbīr raise the hands up to the ears and drop them on the sides and after the fourth takbīr fold again.
3. The imām will recite the Sūrah Al-Fātihah and another sūrah and go into rukū' and sajdah etc. as usual.
4. In the second rak'at, after the recitation and before rukū' another three takbīr will be called. In all three takbīr raise the hands to the ears and drop them on the sides and go into rukū' when the fourth takbīr is called.
Note: Four takbīr are said together in each rak'at; at the beginning of the first rak'at and before going into rukū' in the second rak'at. The easy method of remembering when to drop the hands and when to fold is mentioned hereunder:
(a) Remember the following words: fold, drop, drop, fold, for the first rak'at; drop, drop, drop, rukū', for the second rak'at.
(b) or keep the following general rule in mind: when there is something to be recited after a takbīr, the hands should be folded and when nothing is to be recited the hands are to be dropped to the sides.

Mas'alah: it is makrūh to offer any salāh, in the masjid where the 'Īd salāh is to be performed, before or after the 'Īd salāh. Hence, we should not perform nafl salāh such as Ishrāq on 'Īd day.
Mas'alah: It is also makrūh to perform any salāh at home before the 'Īd salāh, but it is not makrūh after salāh.
Mas'alah: If anyone missed the 'Īd salāh then he cannot offer it individually.
Mas'alah: Khutbah after the 'Īd salāh is sunnah. However, the listening of the khutbah is wājib.
Mas'alah: It is wājib to say the Takbīr of Tashrīq after the 'Īd-ul-Adhā salāh, according to some 'ulamā; therefore one should recite it after the salāh.
Mas'alah: If anyone joins the 'Īd salāh after the imām has said the three takbīr in the first rak'ah he should say his three takbīr immediately. If he joins while the imām is in rukū', then if he feels and has strong hope that he will say three takbīr and join the imām in rukū' then he should complete the takbīr before going into rukū'. Otherwise he should join the imām in rukū' and say the three takbīr instead of the tasbīh of rukū'.
Note: Whilst saying the takbīr in rukū', he should not raise his hands.
Note: If the imām rises from rukū' before his takbīr are completed, he should also rise with the imām and his takbīr will be remitted for him.
Mas'alah: If anyone missed the first rak'ah and joined the imām in the second rak'ah he should say the three takbīr of the the first rak'ah after the recitation when he gets up to complete the missed rak'ah.
Mas'alah: If anyone joined the imām in the second rak'ah after rukū', then he should perform two raka'āt as mentioned above.
© Islāmic Da'wah Academy