US Trends

how to pray eid prayer at home

Eid salah at home is prayed as a special two‑rak’ah prayer with extra takbirs, and if you miss the mosque you can pray it yourself (alone or with family) without a khutbah.

Quick Scoop

If you cannot go to the masjid, many scholars say you may pray Eid at home, imitating the masjid prayer as much as you can, but skipping the sermon. There are small differences between schools of thought, but all agree on 2 rak’ahs with extra takbirs and Qur’an recitation. Below is a simple, mainstream step‑by‑step (Hanafi‑style with mention of the common 7/5 method) and some notes from recent community discussions, especially since Covid made “how to pray Eid prayer at home” a trending topic again.

Before You Start

  • Make wudu and wear clean, nice clothes.
  • Choose a clean place facing the qiblah.
  • Pray after sunrise, roughly 15–20 minutes after, and before midday.
  • You can pray:
    • Alone.
    • As a small jama’ah with your family (one person leads).

Intention (in your heart): “I intend to pray two rak’ahs of Eid salah for the sake of Allah.”

Step‑by‑Step: Simple Hanafi Method

This is the method many guides from charities and masjids share today.

First rak’ah

  1. Say the opening takbir
    • Raise hands and say: Allahu Akbar , then place your hands and recite the opening supplication quietly (e.g. Subhanaka…).
  1. Extra takbirs (3 times)
    • Say Allahu Akbar three more times, raising your hands each time.
 * After the third, leave your hands folded on your chest, ready for recitation.
  1. Recitation
    • Recite Surah al‑Fatiha, then another surah (for example, al‑A’la or al‑Ghashiyah, but any short surah is fine).
  1. Complete the rak’ah normally
    • Ruku, then two sujud, then stand up for the second rak’ah as in normal salah.

Second rak’ah

  1. Start as normal
    • Hands folded; recite Surah al‑Fatiha, then another surah.
  1. Extra takbirs (3 times)
    • After recitation, say Allahu Akbar three times, raising your hands each time.
 * After the third, leave your hands by your sides.
  1. Ruku and sujud
    • Say Allahu Akbar again to go into ruku, then complete the two sujud as normal.
  1. Tashahhud and salam
    • Sit, recite tashahhud, salawat, dua, then turn your head right and left with salam.

No khutbah is required at home; major scholars explicitly say if you missed the main Eid prayer, you pray it “in the proper manner but without a khutbah.”

The 7 and 5 Takbir Method (Very Common Online)

Many modern guides and forum posts use this format, based on another well‑known fiqhi method.

  • First rak’ah:
    • Opening takbir.
    • Then 7 extra takbirs before al‑Fatiha.
* Recite al‑Fatiha and another surah, then complete the rak’ah as normal.
  • Second rak’ah:
    • Stand up and say 5 extra takbirs.
* Recite al‑Fatiha and another surah.
* Complete ruku, sujud, tashahhud, and salam.

Some scholars and guides say clearly: both the 3/3 and the 7/5 pattern are acceptable, and if you normally follow a mosque or madhhab, copy what they do.

Mini FAQ and Different Views

  • Is Eid prayer at home allowed if the masjid is open?
    • Many scholars say if you can attend the jama’ah you should, but if you miss it for a reason (work, distance, illness), you may pray at home in the same way without khutbah.
  • Can I pray alone?
    • Yes, classical Maliki and Hanbali sources say it is recommended to make it up individually if you missed the imam, and you pray it the same way.
  • Khutbah at home?
    • Home make‑up Eid: no khutbah needed.
* If a knowledgeable person wants to give a short reminder to family after, as a talk rather than a formal khutbah, that’s fine.
  • Which surahs to recite?
    • Many guides suggest:
      • First rak’ah: al‑A’la.
      • Second: al‑Ghashiyah.
* But any surahs you know are valid.

Forum and “Trending Topic” Angle

During Covid lockdowns, “how to pray Eid prayer at home” became a widely discussed and searched topic, and many Islamic sites published special home‑Eid guides. Recent blog posts and charity pages is still refresh this each year, especially before Eid al‑Fitr and Eid al‑Adha. On forums (like Reddit’s r/islam), people share simple checklists: “2 rak’ah, 7 takbirs in the first, 5 in the second, recite aloud, no khutbah.”

A typical community comment you’ll see is:
“Don’t stress about the exact number; follow one valid method properly, focus on sincerity, and do your best—Allah is Most Merciful.”

Simple HTML table for key steps

[7][5] [3] [3][5] [5] [9][3] [7]
Part Action at Home
Intention Intend 2 rak’ah Eid salah for Allah, alone or with family.
Timing After sunrise (about 15 minutes later) until before midday.
Rak’ahs 2 rak’ahs total, recited aloud.
Extra takbirs (method 1) 3 extra in each rak’ah (Hanafi guide).
Extra takbirs (method 2) 7 in first rak’ah, 5 in second (very common online).
Khutbah No khutbah required at home when making up Eid prayer.
**TL;DR:** To pray Eid prayer at home: pray 2 rak’ahs after sunrise, with extra takbirs (3/3 or 7/5), recite al‑Fatiha and another surah aloud, complete like normal salah, and no khutbah is needed.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.