The two 'Iyd prayers are considered necessary (wajib) and are to be offered on the two annual religious festive days: 'Iyd al-Fitr (marking the end of Ramadan) and 'Iyd al-Adha (on Dhu al-Hijja 10, the Day of Sacrifice). The former continues for 3 days, and the latter for 4 days.

The Religious Festive Days. On these days, Muslims visit, congratulate and offer gifts to one another, and display greater generosity by honoring the elders and pleasing the needy and children especially. They amuse themselves within religious and moral bounds, occupy themselves with reciting the Qur'an, mentioning God's Names, and supplicating. It is advisable to perform ghusl (major ablution) and wear the best clothes and religiously allowed perfume. On the Day of Sacrifice, they offer cattle or sheep or goats to God as a sacrifice, as will be explained below.

The Prayer. The 'Iyd prayers can be offered from when the sun is three spears above the horizon (approximately three quarters after sunrise) until it reaches its zenith. All men, women (regardless of marital status, age, or if they are menstruating), and children go to the place of prayer. Menstruating women do not attend the prayer. There is no adhan or iqama, unlike the Friday prayer.

Offering the 'Iyd Prayer. The 'Iyd prayer consists of two rak'ats and is offered like the Friday prayer, except for extra takbirs (Allahu akbar [God is the Greatest]). Like other prayers, the imam and the congregation make the intention and the opening takbir, and then recite the supplication silently. After the supplication and before reciting al-Fatiha, the imam leads the congregation in three extra takbirs by raising his hands while saying the opening takbir. After the first two takbirs, they leave their arms down, and after the third, they hold their hands under the navel and begin to recite al-Fatiha. After completing the first rak'at and reciting al-Fatiha and another Qur'anic passage in the second rak'at, the imam leads the congregation in extra takbirs again. This time they say four takbirs and, leaving the arms down after the first three, bow after the fourth one. Then they complete the prayer.

Sermon. After the prayer, the imam gives a sermon just as he does during the Friday congregational prayer.
Takbirs during the 'Iyds. Muslims must exalt God on the Festive Days of Sacrifice by pronouncing: Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar; la ilaha illa'llahu wa'llahu akbar; Allahu akbar wa li'llahi'l-hamd (God is the Greatest, God is the Greatest. There is no deity but God, and God is the Greatest. God is the Greatest and for His is all praise.). It is pronounced after every prescribed prayer after the dawn prayer on the day before the Festive Day, and ends after the afternoon prayer on the fourth day of 'Iyd.