"Allah's Messenger, Abu Bakr, and Umar would pray during the two Eid before the Khutbah, then they would give the Khutbah."
Hadith Reference & Authenticity
This narration is recorded in Jami` at-Tirmidhi 531 from The Book on the Two Eids by Imam at-Tirmidhi. The chain of transmission is sound (hasan), and it establishes a clear precedent from the Prophet ﷺ and his two immediate successors.
Primary Legal Ruling
The established Sunnah for the Eid prayer is to perform the prayer first, followed by the sermon (khutbah). This sequence is distinct from the Friday (Jumu'ah) prayer, where the khutbah precedes the prayer. This reversal of order is a specific legal characteristic (sighah) of the Eid prayer itself.
Scholarly Commentary & Wisdom
The scholars deduce from this hadith that prioritizing the prayer signifies its greater importance on this day of celebration and gratitude. The Eid prayer is an act of worship dedicated solely to Allah, while the khutbah contains counsel and reminders for the people.
By performing the prayer first, the community fulfills its primary duty to Allah before attending to the imam's exhortations. This practice also brings immediate joy and completion to the act of worship, aligning with the festive nature of Eid.
Continuity of the Sunnah
The mention of Abu Bakr and Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) adhering to this practice demonstrates its established and continuous nature. It was not an abandoned or singular act of the Prophet ﷺ but a confirmed Sunnah upheld by the rightly-guided caliphs, making it a binding precedent for the Muslim Ummah.