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Number of Rak`at
The Eid prayer consists of two Rak`at (full prayer units). `Umar (may Allah be please with him) reported:
"The travelers' prayer is two Rak`at; the Adha prayer is two Rak`at; the Fitr prayer is two Rak`at; and the Jumu`ah prayer is two Rak`at; this is their full length as came upon the tongue of Muhammad (peace be upon him)."
Beginning It
Like any other deed in Islam, the prayer must be preceded with the true intention. The intention should be present in the heart before starting the prayer.
Like any other prayer, the first rak`ah (one prayer unit) must be started with Takbirul-ihram; this is followed by the opening supplication.
Additional Takbirs
The opening supplication is followed by seven Takbirs in the first rak`ah. Likewise, the Takbir when rising to the second rak`ah is followed by five more Takbirs. `A'ishah (may Allah be please with her) said:
"Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) would say Takbir in both Fitr and Adha: seven in the first, and five in the second - other than the two Takbirs of ruku` (bowing)."
Imam al-Baghawi commented:
"This is the opinion of most of the people of knowledge among the Companions and those after them: to say, before reciting Quran, in the first rak`ah of the Eid prayer, seven Takbirs other than the opening Takbir, and in the second, five Takbirs other than the Takbir of rising. This has been reported from Abu Bakr, `Umar, `Alee, and others."
The Sunnah is to say the Takbirs before the recitation, as in the Hadith of `Amr Bin Shu`ayb, from his father, from his grandfather (Ibn `Umar may Allah be please with him), who said:
"In the Eid prayer, Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said seven Takbirs in the first rak`ah, recited (Quran), said the Takbir and bowed, prostrated himself; then he stood, said five Takbirs, recited, said Takbir, bowed, and prostrated."
Ibnul-Qayyim commented that anything contrary to this is not true.
There are no authentic reports describing whether or not the Prophet (peace be upon him) raised his hands with these additional Takbirs. For this reason, al-Albani states:
"The reports from `Umar and his son do not make this a sunnah. Especially when we know that these reports are not authentic. As for the one from `Umar, it is recorded by al-Bayhaqi with a weak chain. As for his son's, I have not been able to locate it now."
However, based on various general Hadiths that report the raising of the hands with Takbir in the regular prayers, some scholars allow raising the hands with these additional Takbirs. In this regard, Ibnul-Qayyim said:
"Ibn `Umar, who is known to adhere closely to the Sunnah, used to raise his hands with every one of the Takbirs."
And al-Albani commented on a similar issue:
"One may raise his hands if he believes that Ibn `Umar would not do this without an approval from the Prophet (peace be upon him)."
There are no authentic reports indicating that the people would raise their voice with Takbir when praying behind the imam. The Sunnah is to say all dhikr secretly, except in specific cases where the contrary was confirmed. This is enforced further in situations where raising the voice would disturb other people's prayer. Therefore, it is not permissible for anyone other than the imam to raise the voice with Takbir in the prayer.
There is no dhikr (mention of Allah) confirmed from the Prophet (peace be upon him) between the Eid Takbirs. But it is reported that Ibn Mas`ood (may Allah be please with him) said:
"Between every two Takbirs is a praise of Allah and a salah upon the Prophet (peace be upon him)."
Ibnul-Qayyim said:
"The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to remain silent between every two Takbirs, and nothing is reported from him regarding dhikr between them."
The Takbir is a sunnah (recommended act). Leaving it, whether intentionally or forgetfully, does not invalidate the prayer. There is no difference of opinion on this among the scholars. However, there is no doubt that anyone who neglects it intentionally would be violating the sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
The Recitation
After the Takbirs, one should utter ta`awwuth and basmalah.
This is followed by reciting al-Fatihah, which is a required pillar in every rak`ah of every prayer.
This is followed by reciting Surat Qaaf (50) in the first rak`ah, and Sooratul-Qamar (54) in the second.
Alternatively, one may recite: Suratul-A`laa (87) in the first, and Sooratul-Ghashiyah (88) in the second.
Ibnul-Qayyim said:
"Both of these have been authentically reported from the action of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Nothing else is authentic."
There is surely wisdom in reciting these particular surahs in Eid. Some of this has been discussed by scholars like an-Nawawi and ash-Shawkani.
The Remainder Of The Prayer
The remainder of the Eid prayer is performed in the same manner as any other prayer, without any difference.
Missing The Eid Prayer
If one misses the Eid prayer in Jama`ah, he must pray two Rak`at. Imam al-Bukhari headed a section as, "Section: One Who Misses the Eid Prayer Should Pray Two Rak`at." And he added that `Ata' said:
"When one misses the Eid prayer, he prays two Rak`at."
Al-Hafiz Bin Hajar commented on this:
"In this title are two important points:
The permission to make up the Eid prayer for the one who misses praying it with the Jama`ah - whether that happened by compulsion or choice.
That it is made-up as two Rak`at."
Waliyyullah ad-Dahlawi said:
"This is the opinion of ash-Shafi`i - that if one misses the prayer with the imam, he should pray two Rak`at in order to at least attain the virtue of performing the Eid prayer, despite the fact that he missed the virtue of praying it in Jama`ah with the imam.
As for the Hanafis, there is no make-up for the Eid prayer. If one misses it with the imam, he has totally missed it."
Imam Malik said:
"In my opinion, anyone who prays the Eid prayer individually, whether man or woman, should say seven Takbirs in the first rak`ah, before recitation, and five in the second, before recitation."
And Ibn Qudamah said:
"The one who comes late to the Eid prayer should perform what he missed according to the way that he missed it. This is true for any prayer."
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