In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.

Canada has a diverse Muslim population. Sunni Muslims perform Salat-ul-Eid according to one of the four madhabs of Ahl Sunnah wal Jama'ah.

Salat-ul-Eid is Wajib (necessary/mandatory) according to Hanafi scholars, Sunnah al-Mu'kkadah according to Maliki and Shaf'i jurisprudence, and Fard al-kifaya according to Hanbali scholars (some scholars say it is fard al-ayn). All of these are accepted according to the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad Salalaahu 'alahi wa Sallam and according to the principles of the Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama'ah.

According to the Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali Fiqh (Schools of Sunni Islamic law), it is permissible, even in regular circumstances, for the one who misses the Eid Salat at the mosque or musalla to perform it at home, either individually or in congregation – though some Maliki jurists are of the opinion that it must be performed individually. There is no requirement, however, to have the sermon (khutba) delivered.

Imam Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him), the great Shafi'i jurist, states, "Two views have been transmitted [in the Shafi'i School] on whether the Eid prayer is legislated for a slave, traveller, woman and a person praying alone at home or elsewhere. The reliable and more renowned position is that it is legislated for them." (Al-Majmu' sharh al-Muhaddhab 5/32)

As such, it is permitted for those following the above schools of Islamic law to perform the Eid prayer at home due to the current lockdown and the various mosques/masajid remaining closed for the general public. There are, however, differences in some peripheral details between these schools, hence one should learn the rules prior to performing the Eid prayer.

According to the Hanafi School of Sunni Islamic law, Eid prayer is treated the same as the Friday/Jumu'a prayer and, as such, all the conditions of the latter apply to the former – with the exception of the sermon (khutba). Under normal circumstance the Eid Salat is done in congregation. It can be done at home, under the current Covid-19 unprecedented circumstance, either in congregation or individually according to the famous and respected Jamiat al-Azhar of Egypt.

Salat-ul-Eid has additional takbeers that differentiates it from the regular prayers.

On the morning of Eid, it is sunnah to take a shower (i.e. perform ghusl). It is also sunnah to start the day by eating dates. Even if you don't eat or have access to dates, eat before you pray. Eid al-Adha, on the other hand, you would pray first and then eat. However, since we've been fasting for a month, we eat first thing in the morning before Eid al-Fitr prayer to indicate the fasting of Ramadan has ended. Remember, it is prohibited to fast on the first day of Eid al-Fitr.

Eid prayer must be performed after the sun has risen. As a result, you cannot pray the Eid prayer immediately after Fajr. Also, Eid prayer must be performed before zawaal. Zawaal refers to the time in which the sun has reached zenith, its highest point in the sky. Therefore, it is recommended to perform the Eid prayer anytime between the hours of 7:00 AM and 12:00 PM.

After Maghrib on the day before Eid, you start saying Takbeerat ul-Eid. After you pray the Eid prayer, the Takbeerat ul-Eid stops. This is different from Eid-al-Adha, when we do takbeerat for 3 days following the Eid prayer.

Unique Elements of Eid Salah:

1. No adhan or iqama
2. Extra takbeers (saying Allahu-akbar)
3. Two Rakaahs

There is no khutbah (sermon) after the prayer if you pray at home. However, you can listen to a sermon online because it's mandub (recommended), not wajib (required) to listen to a khutbah.

If your local Sunni mosque is doing a live Eid khutbah then we recommend you first pray the Eid prayer then tune in to listen. Insha Allah, you will be rewarded. We encourage all Sunni mosques to add the time of their live Eid Khutba if it is being offered during the Covid-19 pandemic.