Eid Prayer

Holiday the prayer, Islam in the faith, the prayer performed with the congregation on the morning of Ramadan and Sacrifice festivals, distinguished from other prayers by its special takbirs and sermon, is a highly emphasized act of worship. This prayer, which enables Muslims to gather collectively to celebrate the festival, holds high spiritual value both individually and socially. Eid al-Fitr symbolizes the completion of the fasting act of worship, while the Kurban Bayram symbolizes the completion of the Hajj act of worship; therefore, the prayer performed on the morning of the festival represents the joy following these two acts of worship.

Religious Basis and Ruling

Although the festival prayer is not explicitly mentioned in Quran, the practices of Hz. Muhammad and the reports from the time of the Companions form its religious foundation. There are numerous reports that Hz. Prophet performed the festival prayer during his time in Medina on both Ramadan and Kurban Bayram. According to the Hanafi school, the festival prayer is obligatory (wajib); according to the Shafi’i, Maliki, and Hanbali schools, it is a confirmed sunnah. This difference relates to how each school interprets the concept of wajib.

Festival prayer in Istanbul –Anadolu Agency

Performance and Characteristics

The festival prayer is performed in the time interval between sunrise and the time when the sun has risen sufficiently high, known as the time of kuşluk. It is performed in the same manner during both Ramazan and Kurban Bayram. It consists of two rak’ahs. After reciting Al-Fatiha and a surah in the first rak’ah, three takbirs are recited; in the second rak’ah, three takbirs are recited before the recitation. These takbirs are called “zevâid takbirs” and constitute the most distinctive feature of the prayer.

After the prayer, the imam delivers the festival sermon. According to the Hanafi school, the sermon is a sunnah and is delivered after the prayer. During the sermon, the congregation faces the qibla, blessings and peace are invoked upon the Prophet, and messages regarding social harmony and unity are conveyed. Listening to the sermon during this time is considered a matter of proper conduct.

The Wisdom and Social Dimension of the Festival Prayer

The festival prayer strengthens not only the individual’s relationship with Allah but also their bond with the community. Performing the prayer in congregation reinforces the sense of unity and solidarity among Muslims. On the morning of the festival, people gather in the same mosque, spiritual enthusiasm increases through the recitation of takbirs, and this act of worship becomes a symbolic representation of the festival’s spirit. Moreover, together with the zakat al-fitr and kurban acts of worship performed before the festival prayer, the community’s awareness of social mutual aid is activated.

Participation of Women in the Festival Prayer

It is known that during the time of Hz. Peygamber, women also participated in the festival prayer. However, over time, different approaches emerged among the schools of jurisprudence. While the Hanafi school does not encourage women’s participation in the festival prayer, the Shafi’i and Hanbali schools consider it recommended (mustahabb). In contemporary Türkiye, the Directorate of Religious Affairs states that there is no obstacle to women participating in the festival prayer and, on the contrary, affirms that such participation is religiously appropriate and beneficial.

Differences Between the Festival Prayer and Other Prayers

Unlike the daily prayers, the festival prayer does not begin with the adhan or iqama but directly with the call to prayer (“namaza”). Although the sermon following the prayer resembles the Friday prayer, in the festival prayer the sermon comes after the prayer. Additionally, the zevâid takbirs performed during the festival prayer and the collective recitation of festival takbirs are characteristic features of this act of worship.

Current Practice

In contemporary Türkiye, festival prayers are performed in mosques or large squares during the morning hours. The Directorate of Religious Affairs announces the prayer times for each province annually. Before the prayer, takbirs are recited collectively in mosques, and during the festival sermon, current religious and moral messages relevant to the community are delivered. As one of the rare acts of worship that bring together all segments of society, the festival prayer carries both religious and sociocultural functions.