A lot of people have prayed the Eid al Adha prayer for years and still feel like they’re half-guessing their way through it. The extra takbeers come, you say Allahu Akbar and follow along, and then it’s done — and you’re not entirely sure you did it right or said the right thing between them. Nobody sat down with you and actually walked through it. Most guides don’t either; they list steps but leave out what you’re actually supposed to be saying and why each part is what it is. So, how to pray Eid Al Adha?
That’s exactly what this guide does. It walks you through every step of Salat al Eid, gives you the Arabic duas with transliteration and meaning, and tells you where each part comes from in Sunni scholarship. And if understanding Quranic Arabic is something you’re working toward — or you just want your salah to feel less automatic — trust me, the context matters more than you’d expect.
What Makes the Eid al Adha Prayer Different
First, the basics. The prayer is two raka’ahs, prayed in congregation after sunrise and before zawal (before the sun passes its zenith). — on open ground or in a large mosque. There’s no adhan and no iqamah, and that’s not something anyone forgot. It’s from the Sunnah itself — Jabir ibn Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated in Sahih Muslim (no. 886) that the Prophet ﷺ prayed both Eid prayers without either.
On the question of whether attending is obligatory, the Hanafi school says wajib. The Hanbali, Shafi’i, and Maliki schools say fard kifayah — a communal obligation. Ibn Qudamah discusses this in al-Mughni for anyone who wants the fuller picture. Across all four schools, the practical position is the same — missing it without a valid reason is not something to take lightly.
What makes the prayer feel different from the daily prayers is the additional takbeers said before the Quranic recitation in each raka’ah. Those are what catch people off guard the first time, so that’s where most of the explanation here sits.
There’s a difference between reciting Arabic and understanding it. If you’re ready to close that gap — to actually know what you’re saying in your salah — Alif Arabic’s Quranic Arabic course is the place to start.
Takbeer al Tashreeq: From Eid Evening Through the Days of Tashriq
From the evening before Eid al Adha until the 13th of Dhul Hijjah, you say takbeer al-tashreeq after every obligatory prayer. Ibn Mas’ud and Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) narrated this wording, recorded by al-Bayhaqi in al-Sunan al-Kubra:
- اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ
- Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, la ilaha illa Allah, wa-Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, wa lillahi al-hamd.
- Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest. There is no god but Allah. And Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest. And to Allah belongs all praise.
And honestly? If you’re working on your Quranic Arabic, these words will hit differently. الحمد — that’s the same root you read every single day in al-Fatiha. أكبر — you’ve been saying it your whole life. There’s a moment that happens when you stop just repeating and actually start understanding. When the words land instead of just passing through. That moment is worth chasing.
How to Pray Eid al Adha: Each Step of Salat al-Eid
Intention and Opening Takbeer
Before anything else — the niyyah. You make your intention in your heart. Not out loud, not whispered. Just in your heart. All four Sunni schools agree on this. You’re intending two raka’ahs of Salat al Eid, following the imam. Then the imam says Allahu Akbar, and the prayer opens. Hands go up — to the earlobes if you follow the Hanafi school, to the shoulders if you follow the other three — then folded. After that, you say the du’a al-istiftah quietly to yourself.
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلَٰهَ غَيْرُكَ
Subhanaka Allahumma wa-bihamdika, wa-tabaraka ismuka, wa-ta’ala jadduka, wa-la ilaha ghayruk.
Glory be to You, O Allah, and all praise. Blessed is Your name, and exalted is Your majesty. There is no god but You.
The Extra Takbeers — First Raka’ah
Now come the additional takbeers — and this is the part that trips most people up. Seven before the recitation if you follow the Hanbali, Shafi’i, or Maliki school. Three if you’re Hanafi. That’s it. But because nobody really explains this part clearly, it’s where most people zone out and just follow along, hoping for the best. So let’s slow down here.
Between each takbeer, it is recommended to say quietly:
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَلَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Subhan Allahi wal-hamdu lillahi wa-la ilaha illa Allahu wa-Allahu akbar.
Ibn Mas’ud and the Companions said it. Ibn Qudamah recorded it in al-Mughni. Al-Nawawi recorded it in al-Majmu’. Then once the extra takbeers are finished — al-Fatiha, and then Surah al-A’la, Surah 87.
Second Raka’ah and Completing the Prayer
You stand for the second raka’ah, and the extra takbeers come again — five this time (three in the Hanafi school), the same brief dhikr between each one. Al-Fatiha, then Surah al-Ghashiyah — Surah 88. Then you complete the raka’ah as normal — ruku, sujud, tashahhud, tasleem. Nothing new there. And if you’ve ever thought about reading the original fiqh and tafsir — not a translation, the actual Arabic — Alif Arabic’s Arabic for Adults course builds exactly that foundation. Check it out.
The Khutbah: Why It Comes After the Prayer
If you’re used to Jumu’ah, this will catch you off guard. The khutbah comes after the prayer — not before. Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated this directly in both Sahih al-Bukhari (no. 962) and Sahih Muslim (no. 884). The Prophet ﷺ prayed first, then he spoke to the people. That’s the order.
Staying for it is strongly recommended. Al-Nawawi in al-Majmu’ notes that leaving without reason is considered makruh by most of the scholars. After a prayer that carries as much history as this one does, it’s worth staying.
The Dua People Exchange on Eid Day
When you meet another Muslim on Eid, the greeting narrated from the Companions is short and not ceremonial:
تَقَبَّلَ اللَّهُ مِنَّا وَمِنْكُمْ
Taqabbala Allahu minna wa-minkum.
May Allah accept from us and from you.
The word تقبّل here — accept — appears in Surah al-Baqarah (2:127) when Ibrahim and Isma’il raise the foundations of the Ka’bah: Rabbana taqabbal minna, our Lord, accept from us. The Eid greeting sits inside the same plea. When you understand Quranic Arabic well enough to catch that — when the greeting and the Quranic prayer start pulling on the same thread — what felt like a polite exchange becomes something else entirely.
What You’re Actually Standing In When You Pray Eid al Adha
Read what Ibn Taymiyyah says about this in Majmu’ al-Fatawa, and you’ll never see the Eid prayer the same way. He’s not just talking about rulings. He’s talking about people — crowds gathered on open ground, takbeers loud enough for the whole street to hear, an entire community showing up together. After Hajj. After the sacrifice. All of them in one place. That image stays with you. That context isn’t background decoration — it’s part of why the prayer is structured the way it is.
This guide gave you the steps. But think about what you’re actually carrying when you pray Salat al-Eid. The opening dua. The takbeers. The dhikr between them. Every single word was passed down — from the Prophet ﷺ to the Companions, from the Companions to the scholars, from the scholars to whoever stood in front of you and led that prayer. That chain is intact. Understanding what you’re saying when you say it is, in a quiet way, how you take your place in it rather than just passing through it.
Adult learners building toward a real engagement with Quranic Arabic — not just reading but understanding — will find Alif Arabic’s Arabic for Adults course a structured place to begin.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many extra takbeers are there in the Eid al-Adha prayer?
Seven in the first raka’ah and five in the second, according to the Hanbali, Shafi’i, and Maliki schools — all before the recitation. The Hanafi school holds three in each raka’ah. If you’re behind an imam, follow his count; all positions are well-established.
Is the Eid prayer obligatory?
The Hanafi school says wajib. The other three schools treat it as a communal obligation — if the community performs it, the individual duty is fulfilled, but those who can attend should. The Prophet ﷺ instructed even women and children to come, as recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari (no. 971).
What if I miss the congregation — can I pray it alone
Scholars differ. Ibn Taymiyyah and some Hanbali scholars held it can be made up individually; other schools don’t treat individual make-up as obligatory. If you miss the congregation, ask a local scholar who knows your madhab.
Does the Eid prayer have an adhan or iqamah?
No — agreed upon by all four Sunni schools. Sahih Muslim (no. 886) records this clearly from Jabir ibn Samurah
