(2-14-4) The Time and Manner of the Two Eid Prayers
This section covers the following issues:
The first issue: The time of the two Eid prayers.
The second issue: Neither the call to prayer nor the announcement that prayer is commencing is prescribed for the two Eid prayers.
The third issue: The number of units in the two Eid prayers and their takbīrs.
The fourth issue: Recitation in the two Eid prayers.
Their details are as follows:
The First Issue: The Time of the Two Eid Prayers
Yazīd ibn Khumayr al-Rahabī reported: Abd Allah ibn Busr, a Companion of Allah’s Messenger—peace and blessings be upon him—went out with the people on the day of Eid al-Fitr or Eid al-Adhā. He objected to the imam’s delay and said, “By this time, we would already have finished!” It was then the time of the voluntary forenoon prayer. (1) Reported by Abū Dāwūd and Ibn Mājah. (2)
The hadith indicates that its time begins after sunrise.
It also indicates that it is recommended to go to it early. (3)
(1) Regarding the phrase, “That was at the time of *tasbīh* (voluntary prayer),” *Al-Sindī’s Gloss on Ibn Mājah* (1/395) states: “Al-Suyūtī said: ‘That is, when the *duhā* prayer is performed.’ Al-Qastallānī said: ‘That is, the time for the *subhah* prayer—a voluntary prayer—after the period in which prayer is discouraged has ended.’ An authentic narration reported by al-Tabarānī reads: ‘That was when the *duhā* prayer is performed.’” See also *Fath al-Bārī* (2/457).
(2) An authentic hadith. Abū Dāwūd reported it in the *Book of Prayer*, chapter “The Time for Going Out to the Eid Prayer,” hadith no. 1135. Ibn Mājah reported it in the *Book of Establishing the Prayer and Its Sunnah*, chapter “The Time of the Eid Prayer,” hadith no. 1317. Al-Bukhārī also cited it in his *Sahīh* without a complete chain of transmission (*Fath al-Bārī*, 2/456). Al-Albānī graded the hadith authentic in *Sahīh Sunan Abī Dāwūd* (1/210), and the editor of *Jāmi al-Usūl* graded its chain of transmission authentic (6/129).
(3) See *Fath al-Bārī* (2/457).