How to Perform Eid ul Fitr Prayer at Home - Step by Step Guide

How to perform the Aidilfitri prayer at home

Alhamdulillah for another opportunity to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Also known as Hari Raya Puasa, it is a day of victory for us after striving to be the best version of ourselves spiritually, physically and socially with perseverance, hope and faith. 

Unlike the previous years since the pandemic, we can now return to mosques for the sunnah Aidilfitri prayer. The joyous ambience of Aidilfitri is here with us through the blessings attained from the month of Ramadan. It is the spirit of victory over the baser self that we have strived against as we develop virtuous and praiseworthy traits in the sacred month.

Those of us who cannot join the mosque congregation for the sunnah Aidilfitri prayer can still observe it in congregation with our family members or individually and intimately by ourselves in the comfort of our homes.

If you're not feeling well or somewhat under the weather, try not to visit the mosque. Be responsible, considering you might affect other congregants, and you can perform the sunnah Aidilfitri prayer at home

The sunnah Aidilfitri prayer, also known as Solat Raya, is a highly recommended prayer (Sunnah Muakkadah). According to scholars, it is considered one of the most highly regarded among other sunnah prayers (nawafil). Rasulullah s.a.w. never missed performing this prayer since it was established for Muslims to perform.

The sunnah Aidilfitri prayer is ideally performed in congregation. However, it can also be done individually.

The period to perform the sunnah Aidilfitri prayer is on the first day of Syawal when the sun has completely risen at about 30 mins after syuruq (sunrise), which is around 7:30 am and ends with the Zohor prayer time.

Here is a step-by-step guide to performing the sunnah Aidilfitri prayer:

1. Establish intention to perform the sunnah Aidilfitri prayer

 Establish the intention for the sunnah Aidilfitri prayer:

أُصَلِّي سُنَّةَ عِيدِ الفِطْرِ رَكعَتَين لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى 

Usolli sunnata ‘idil fitri rak'ataini lillah ta'ala 

I intend to pray the sunnah prayer of Aidilfitri two raka'at for Allah, the exalted

If you are praying in a congregation, the intentions are as follows.

The one who is leading the prayer as an Imam would recite:

أُصَلِّي سُنَّةَ عِيدِ الفِطْرِ رَكعَتَينِ إِمَامًا لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى

Usolli sunnata ‘idil fitri rak'ataini imaamam lillah ta'ala

I intend to pray the sunnah prayer of Aidilfitri as the Imam two raka'at for Allah, the exalted

The Makmum (follower) will recite this intention:

أُصَلِّي سُنَّةَ عِيدِ الفِطْرِ رَكعَتَينِ مَأمُومًا لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى

Usolli sunnata ‘idil fitri rak'ataini ma’muman lillah ta'ala

I intend to pray the sunnah prayer of Aidilfitri as the Ma’mum (follower), two raka'at for Allah, the exalted

The following illustrations will guide you in praying Jema’ah (in a congregation) at home:

Read these guidelines for praying in a congregation.

2. Perform the Takbiratul Ihram

Takbiratul ihram is the act of entering the sacred state of prayer. It is done by raising your hands such that your thumbs are around the same level as your earlobes and your palms are on the same level as your shoulder. 

Say ‘Allahu Akbar’ while keeping your intention in mind.

3. Place your right hand over your left and recite Dua Iftitah

Upon giving the takbir, place your right hand over your left, with your hands below the chest and above your navel area.

Recite the Dua Iftitah (opening dua) quietly only for the first raka’at:

اللهُ اَكْبَرُ كَبِرًا وَالْحَمْدُ لِلهِ كَثِيرًا وَسُبْحَانَ اللهِ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيْلًا .وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِيْ فَطَرَالسَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيْفًا مُسْلِمًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِيْنَ . إِنَّ صَلَاتِيْ وَنُسُكِيْ وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِيْ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ . لاَ شَرِيْكَ لَهُ وَبِذَلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِيْنَ

Allaahu Akbar Kabiraa,

Walhamdulillāhi Kathīrā

Wa Subhānallāhi Bukratan Wa aṣīlā

Wajjahtu Wajhi-allazi Fatra-Samawāti wal-Ardh

Hanīfan-Musliman Wamā ana minal-musyrikīn

Inna ṣalātī, wanusukī wamahyayā, wamamātī Lillāhi rabbil-'ālamīn

Lā Syarīka lahu Wa Bidzālika Umirtu Wa Anā Minal Muslimīn 
___________________

Allah the Almighty, the Greatest

All praises be upon Him

Allah The Most Exalted of them all, day and night

I stand before The One Who created the skies and the lands

I sincerely submit to Allah and I am certainly not among those who associate Allah with other beings

Indeed my Solat, my good deeds, my life and my death are all for Allah The Lord of all the worlds

He has no partner nor parallel whatsoever, and I have been ordered as such, and I am from those who embrace Islam.

 4. Give 7x Takbir

After reciting the opening prayer (dua ifititah), lift your hand to give another takbir (Allahu Akbar) 7 times. Put your hands back on your chest after every takbir as per the default standing position in prayer.

It is part of the Sunnah to recite the following in between each takbir quietly, including after the 7th takbir:

 سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَلَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَاللهُ أَكبَر 

SubhanAllah Walhamdu-lillah Wa-La Ilaha Ilallahu Wallahu Akbar

If one were to become confused about the number of takbir recited - for example, reciting 8 takbir instead of 7 takbir, then it is okay. It is considered makruh (disliked), but the prayer is still valid. 

If you were to mistakenly jumble up the number of takbir recited and the number remains unclear, take the smallest number in mind and continue from there.

Or if you were to mistakenly skip all the 7 takbir and recite Surah Al-Fatihah immediately after the takbiratul ihram, then it is ok to proceed with the prayer as it does not invalidate the sunnah prayer. Leaving the 7 takbir unintentionally, however, is Makruh (disliked).

On another note, it is important to clarify that the mentioned 7 takbir does not include the takbiratul ihram (opening takbir).

5. Recite Surah Al-Fatihah and another Surah from the Quran

Once all the 7 takbir have been made, recite the ta’awwudz (seeking refuge in Allah s.w.t.) quietly:

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

A'uzu billahi min ash-shaytan ar-rajim

I seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Shaytan

And then read Surah Al-Fatihah:

بِسمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحمٰنِ الرَّحيمِ. الحَمدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ العالَمينَ. الرَّحمٰنِ الرَّحيمِ. مَالِكِ يَومِ الدّينِ. إِيّاكَ نَعبُدُ وَإِيّاكَ نَستَعينُ. اهدِنَا الصِّراطَ المُستَقيمَ. صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنعَمْتَ عَلَيهِم غَيرِ المَغضُوبِ عَلَيهِم وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ

Bismillāhir-Raḥmānir-Raḥīm.

Alḥamdulillāhi Rabbil-ālamīn.

Ar-Raḥmānir-Raḥīm.

Māliki yawmid-dīn.

iyyāKa naʿbudu wa-iyyāKa nastaʿīn.

Ihdināṣ-ṣirāṭal-mustaqīm.

ṣirāṭallazīna anʿamTa ʿalayhim ghayril-maghḍūbi ʿalayhim wa-lāḍ-ḍāllīn.
___________________

In the name of God, The Most Compassionate, The Most Merciful.

Praise be to God, Lord of all the worlds.

The Compassionate, the Merciful. Ruler on the Day of Reckoning.

You alone do we worship, and You alone do we ask for help.

Guide us on the straight path,

the path of those who have received your grace;

not the path of those who have brought down wrath, nor of those who wander astray.

Amin.

Upon completing the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah, you may read any memorised surah of your preference. For the second raka’at, it is encouraged to choose a verse that does not precede the first in the order of the Quran. For example, you can read Surah Al-’Asr in the first raka’at and read Surah Al-Ikhlas in the second.

6. Complete the first raka'at

Bend forward for Ruku’

Say Allahu Akbar (takbiratul intiqal) during the transition from standing to bending for Ruku’, while raising your hands just as previously explained in takbiratul ihram. Lower your hands gently to your knees as we move towards the Ruku’ position. 

Say three times, 

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّي العَظِيمِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ

Subhāna Rabbiyal-’Azīm wabihamdih

 Glory be to Allah, the Mighty, and praise be to He

Stand in the upright position - I’tidal

After completing your Ruku’, return to the standing position while raising your hands just as in the takbiratul ihram position and recite during the transition:

سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ

Sami’ Allahu liman hamidah 

Allah has heard the one who praised Him

Lower your hands gently. When you are in the complete upright position, recite:

رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ

Rabbana walaKal-hamd 

O Our Lord, to You are all the praises

Perform the first sujud

Go into prostration while saying the Allahu Akbar. Let your knees touch the ground first, followed by your palms and then your forehead. While in the first Sujud, recite three times:

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّي الأَعْلَى وَبِحَمْدِهِ

Subhānna Rabbiya l-A’lā wa bihamdih

 Glory be to my Lord The Most High, and praise be to He

Sit on your knees

In between the two Sujud, rise from the prostration to a sitting position on your knees (iftirash position) while saying Allahu Akbar.  In the sitting position, say :

رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ وَارْحَمْنِيْ وَاجْبُرْنِيْ وَارْفَعْنِيْ وَارْزُقْنِيْ وَاهْدِنِيْ وَعَافِنِيْ وَاعْفُ عَنِّيْ 

Rabbighfirlī wa-rhamnī wa-jburnī wa-rfa’nī wa-rzuqnī wa-hdinī wa-‘āfinī wa’fu ‘annī

O Lord, forgive me, have mercy on me, cover for me my shortcomings, elevate my rank, provide for me, guide me, grant me well-being, and pardon me 

Perform the second sujud

Afterwards, return to the prostration position to complete the second Sujud and repeat the recitation as mentioned previously.

Upon fulfilling the mentioned steps, you have completed the first raka’at.

7. Return to the standing position - Give 5 x Takbir

Return to the standing position while saying Allahu Akbar (takbiratul intiqal). Begin the Second raka’at with another 5 takbir (Allahu Akbar) just as explained in No. 4. In between each takbir, recite:

 سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَلَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَاللهُ أَكبَر 

SubhanAllah Walhamdu-lillah Wa-La Ilaha IlAllahu WAllahu Akbar

8. Recite Surah Al-Fatihah and another Surah from the Quran

Refer to no. 5 above.

9. Complete the second raka'at

After reciting Surah Al-Fatihah and then followed with another Surah from the Quran, repeat the steps mentioned in No. 6 to complete the second raka'at.

Recite the final Tasyahhud

Complete the prayer by reciting the final Tasyahhud: 

اَلتَّحِيَّاتُ الْمُبَارَكَاتُ الصَّلَوَاتُ الطَّيِّبَاتُ ِللهِ. اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ. اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللهِ الصَّالِحِيْنَ 

At-tahiyyātul mubārakatuṣ-ṣalawātuth ṭayyibātu lillāh. Assalāmu‘alaika ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuhu. Assalāmu‘alainā wa ‘alā ‘ibādillāhiṣ-ṣālihīn

Raise your right index finger and say:

أَشْهدُ اَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللهُ وَاَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُوْلُ اللهِ

Asyhadu an lā ilāha illallāh, wa asyhadu anna Muhammadar Rasuulullāh 

Continue with the selawat:

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ، اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ علَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

Allahumma ṣalli 'ala Muhammadin, wa 'alā āli Muhammad, kamā ṣallaita 'ala 'āli Ibrāhīma, innaka Hamīdun Majīd. Allahumma bārik 'alā Muhammadin, wa 'alā āli Muhammad, kamā bārakta 'alā āli Ibrāhīma, innaka Hamīdun Majīd

O Allah, bestow your blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as you bestowed your blessings upon the family of Ibrahim. Indeed You are Praised and Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You have blessed the family of Ibrahim. Indeed You are Praised and Glorious

10. End with the Salam

Turn your head to both of your sides, starting from the right, such that your cheek can be seen by anyone behind, and say 

السَّلَامُ عَلَيكُم وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ 

Assalamu alaykum wa-rahmatullah

Peace and Allah’s mercy be upon you

11. Listen to the Khutbah

The Khutbah after the prayer is not part of the Integrals (arkan) of the Aidilfitri prayer like it is for the Friday prayer. It is considered to be a sunnah (encouraged) in performing the Aidilftri prayer when performed in congregation. Hence, you are not required to deliver the khutbah at home to complete the prayer.

Once you have observed your sunnah Aidilfitri prayer, you may listen to the khutbah which will be beneficial in sya Allah. 

With its highly regarded merit in the sight of Allah s.w.t. and the joyous spirit of Aidilfitri, may this year's Aidilfitri Sunnah prayer be meaningful. Let us start a new phase of our journey with devoutness to The One who brings glad tidings and victory.

And Allah knows best.