Last updated: 14 October 2026 | Written for Eid ul Adha 2027
Qurbani Easy Editorial Team • Advised by our panel of Islamic scholars
Quick Answer: The Eid ul Adha prayer has no adhan or iqama, is prayed at the Musalla, and comes before the sermon (Sahih al-Bukhari 956, 960; Sahih Muslim 886). The schools differ on the extra takbirs: Hanafi six (3 + 3), Shafi’i twelve (7 + 5), and the DarulFiqh answer gives 11 (6 + 5) citing Mawahib al-Jalil (Maliki) and al-Mughni (Hanbali). If your imam follows another count, the Hanafi answer says to follow him. Ask your scholar for anything beyond what is sourced here.
Families who have not prayed Eid in a particular mosque often ask how it differs from other prayers. This guide gives the sourced points: where, how it begins, the takbirs, and the order of prayer, sermon and Qurbani.
What the hadith reports say
The Prophet (ﷺ) used to proceed to the Musalla on the days of Id-ul-Fitr and Id-ul-Adha; the first thing to begin with was the prayer and after that he would stand in front of the people and the people would keep sitting in their rows. Then he would preach to them, advise them and give them orders.
Narrated by Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri; Sahih al-Bukhari 956 (part)
Sahih al-Bukhari 960 and Sahih Muslim 886 report from Ibn Abbas and Jabir that there was no adhan for the prayer of Id-ul-Fitr and Id-ul-Adha, and Sahih Muslim 886 adds that there was no iqama or any call on that day. Sahih al-Bukhari 5545 reports the Prophet (ﷺ) saying that the first thing to do on that day is to offer the prayer and then return to slaughter.
The extra takbirs, school by school
| School | Extra takbirs | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Hanafi | 6 (3 + 3) | Three after the opening takbir in the first rak‘ah; three in the second after the recitation, before ruku‘. |
| Shafi’i | 12 (7 + 5) | Seven in the first rak‘ah at the start; five in the second on standing, before the recitation. |
| Maliki (citing Mawahib al-Jalil) | 11 (6 + 5) | Six after the opening takbir; five in the second rak‘ah on standing, before the recitation, as given by the DarulFiqh answer. |
| Hanbali (citing al-Mughni) | 11 (6 + 5) | The same count, as given by the DarulFiqh answer. |
The DarulFiqh answer notes that there is a classical difference and that Ibn al-Mundhir counts about twelve opinions on the number. A Hanafi answer on islamqa.org (Shariah Board) gives the Hanafi evidence; another (Askimam) lists the Hanafi and Shafi’i counts for someone who prayed in a mosque that followed a different count.
If your imam follows a different count
Shaykh Faraz Rabbani (via islamqa.org) answers that a Hanafi follows the imam, up to 17 takbirs, since it is a matter open to ijtihad and the difference is about what is best.
What we could not source here
We did not open fatwas on the ruling of the prayer in each school, on its time, or on the wording said between the takbirs, so we do not state them. Please ask your scholar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an adhan for the Eid prayer?
No. Sahih al-Bukhari 960 and Sahih Muslim 886 report from Ibn Abbas and Jabir that there was no adhan for the Eid prayer, and Sahih Muslim 886 adds that there was no iqama either.
Does the prayer come before the sermon?
Yes. Sahih al-Bukhari 956 (Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri) says the first thing he began with was the prayer, and after that he stood in front of the people and gave the khutba.
How many extra takbirs are there?
It differs. Hanafi: six extra (3 + 3). Shafi’i: twelve extra (7 + 5). The DarulFiqh answer lists two further counts of 11 (6 + 5), citing the Maliki text Mawahib al-Jalil and the Hanbali text al-Mughni. See the table.
What if my imam does it differently from my school?
The Hanafi answer by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani (Qibla.com, via islamqa.org) says that if the imam does the takbirs differently, one follows him, up to 17, because it is a matter open to ijtihad and the difference relates to what is best.
Should I slaughter before or after the prayer?
Sahih al-Bukhari 5545 (Al-Bara’) says that whoever slaughters before the prayer has only given meat to his family; the prayer comes first. See Eid ul Adha morning.
Related guides: Eid ul Adha morning; days and time of Qurbani.
To arrange your Qurbani, you can book Qurbani online on our website.
Citation Sources
• Sahih al-Bukhari 956 (Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri) — the Musalla; prayer first, then the khutba; checked on sunnah.com.
• Sahih al-Bukhari 960 (Ibn Juraij, from Ata, Ibn Abbas and Jabir) — no adhan; checked on sunnah.com.
• Sahih Muslim 886 (Ibn Abbas and Jabir) — no adhan and no iqama; checked on sunnah.com.
• Sahih al-Bukhari 5545 (Al-Bara’) — prayer first, then slaughter; checked on sunnah.com.
• DarulFiqh.com (Hanafi), “How many takbir in Eid salaah?” — islamqa.org — Hanafi 6, Shafi’i 12, Maliki and Hanbali 11.
• Shariah Board (Hanafi) — islamqa.org — Hanafi six extra takbirs and their evidence.
• Askimam (Hanafi) — islamqa.org — Hanafi 6 and Shafi’i 12 compared.
• Qibla.com (Shaykh Faraz Rabbani), via islamqa.org — islamqa.org — a Hanafi behind a different imam follows him.
Madhab note: Hanafi and Shafi’i counts are shown side by side from the answers we opened; the Maliki and Hanbali counts are reported only as given in the DarulFiqh answer.