The Third Issue: The Number of Rak‘ahs and Takbīrs in the Two Eid Prayers
Each of the two Eid prayers consists of two rak‘ahs. Seven takbīrs are pronounced in the first rak‘ah before the recitation, and five in the second before the recitation, excluding the transitional takbīr. (1)
The evidence for this is found in the following reports:
Ibn Abbās reported that “the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—performed two rak‘ahs on the day of Eid al-Fitr. He performed no prayer before or after them. He then went to the women, accompanied by Bilāl, and instructed them to give in charity. They began casting things down, each woman casting down her earring and necklace.” Reported by al-Bukhārī and Muslim. (2)
Umar—may Allah be pleased with him—said, “The Eid al-Adhā prayer is two rak‘ahs, the Eid al-Fitr prayer is two rak‘ahs, the traveler’s prayer is two rak‘ahs, and the Friday prayer is two rak‘ahs. They are complete prayers, not shortened ones, as stated by your Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him.” Reported by al-Nasā’ī. (3)
(1) Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyya states in *Zād al-Maād* (1/443): “He”—meaning the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him—“would begin with the prayer before the sermon. He would pray two units, pronouncing seven consecutive *takbīrs* (declarations of ‘Allāhu akbar’) in the first, including the opening *takbīr*. He would pause briefly between every two *takbīrs*. No particular formula of remembrance between them has been reliably preserved from him. It is, however, reported that Ibn Masūd said: ‘One should praise and extol Allah and invoke blessings upon the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.’ Al-Khallāl cited this report. Ibn Umar, who was meticulous in following the Prophet’s example, would raise his hands with every *takbīr*.”
I say: The report he cited from Ibn Masūd was recorded by al-Bayhaqī in *al-Sunan al-Kubrā* (3/291–292). The author of *Ahkām al-Īdayn fī al-Sunna al-Mutahhara* (p. 21) regarded its chain of transmission as strong.
(2) An authentic hadith. Al-Bukhārī reported it in several places, including the *Book of the Two Eid Festivals*, chapter “The Sermon after the Eid Prayer,” hadith no. 964; the wording is his. Muslim also reported it in the *Book of the Two Eid Prayers*, hadith no. 884. See *Jāmi al-Usūl* (6/125–126).
(3) An authentic hadith. Al-Nasāī reported it in the *Book of Friday Prayer*, chapter “The Number of Units in the Friday Prayer” (3/111), and stated: “Abd al-Rahmān ibn Abī Laylā did not hear from Umar.” He repeated it in the *Book of the Two Eid Prayers*, chapter “The Number of Units in the Two Eid Prayers” (3/183).
*Nasb al-Rāya* (2/189–190), however, establishes that Ibn Abī Laylā did hear directly from Umar. Al-Albānī also graded the hadith authentic in *Irwā al-Ghalīl* (3/105–106).