Question:
What is the ruling for Eid prayer?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Eid prayer is sunnah muakkadah (a Sunnah act of worship which the Prophet continuously performed and almost never abandoned). The reason is, the Prophet PBUH never leave this prayer ever since it was sanctioned. The same goes with the companions of the Prophet PBUH, they continued performing it. According to a hadith from Abi Sa’id al-Khudri, Eid prayer is sanctioned to be performed in congregation for every mukallaf Muslim; man, woman, traveller, resident, slave, and free person with the exception of woman who excessively adorns herself for it could lead to fitnah. She should then perform this prayer at home.
Eid prayer is not an obligation according to the hadith of the Prophet PBUH; A man came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) asking him about Islam, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said:
خَمْسُ صَلَوَاتٍ فِي الْيَوْمِ وَاللَّيْلَةِ. فَقَالَ: هَلْ عَلَىَّ غَيْرُهَا؟ قَالَ: لا، إِلاَّ أَنْ تَطَوَّعَ
"You have to offer five compulsory prayers in a day and a night (24 hours)." The man asked, "Is there any more compulsory prayers for me?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "No, unless you like to offer Nawafil (i.e. optional prayers)."
Sahih al-Bukhari (46) and Sahih Muslim (11)
In another narration, the Prophet PBUH said:
خَمْسُ صَلَوَاتٍ كَتَبَهُنَّ اللهُ عَلَى الْعِبَادِ فَمَنْ جَاءَ بِهِنَّ لَمْ يُضَيِّعْ مِنْهُنَّ شَيْئًا اسْتِخْفَافًا بِحَقِّهِنَّ كَانَ لَهُ عِنْدَ اللهِ عَهْدٌ أَنْ يُدْخِلَهُ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَأْتِ بِهِنَّ فَلَيْسَ لَهُ عِنْدَ اللهِ عَهْدٌ إِنْ شَاءَ عَذَّبَهُ وَإِنْ شَاءَ أَدْخَلَهُ الْجَنَّةَ
“There are five prayers which Allah has prescribed on His servants. If anyone offers them, not losing any of them, and not treating them lightly, Allah guarantees that He will admit him to Paradise. If anyone does not offer them, Allah does not take any responsibility for such a person. He may either punish him or admit him to Paradise.”
Sunan Abu Daud (1420)
The next hadith is from Ummu Atiyyah al-Ansariyah R.Anha:
كُنَّا نُوْمَرُ أَنْ نَخْرُجَ يَوْمَ الْعِيدِ، حَتَّى نُخْرِجَ الْبِكْرَ مِنْ خِدْرِهَا، حَتىَّ نُخْرِجَ الْحُيِّضَ فَيَكُنَّ خَلْفَ النَّاسِ، فَيُكَبِّرْنَ بِتَكْبِيْرِهِمْ، وَيَدْعُوْنَ بِدُعَائِهِمْ يَرْجُونَ بَرَكَةَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ وَطُهْرَتَهُ. وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ قَالَتْ امْرَأَةٌ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، إِحدَانَا لمَ ْيَكُنْ لَهَا جِلْبَابٌ؟ فَقَالَ: لِتُلْبِسْهَا صَاحِبَتُهَا مِنْ جِلْبَابِهَا
“We were ordered to bring out our menstruating women and veiled women in the religious gatherings and invocation of Muslims on the two `Id festivals. These menstruating women were to keep away from their Musalla. A woman asked, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ' What about one who does not have a veil?" He said, "Let her share the veil of her companion."
Sahih al-Bukhari (916) and Sahih Muslim (886)
From Ibn Abbas R.Anhuma:
أَنَّهُ أَرْسَلَ إِلَى ابْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ فِي أَوَّلِ مَا بُويِعَ لَهُ إِنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ يُؤَذَّنُ بِالصَّلاَةِ يَوْمَ الْفِطْرِ، إِنَّمَا الْخُطْبَةُ بَعْدَ الصَّلاَةِ
“During the early days of Ibn Az-Zubair, Ibn `Abbas had sent a message to him telling him that the Adhan for the `Id Prayer was never pronounced (in the life time of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ).
Sahih al-Bukhari (916) and Sahih Muslim (886)
In a hadith from Ibn Abbas R.Anhuma and Jabir bin Abdullah RA, they said:
لَمْ يَكُنْ يُؤَذَّنَ يَوْمَ الْفِطْرِ وَلاَ يَوْمَ الأَضْحَى
"There was no Adhan for the prayer of `Id-ul-Fitr and `Id-ul-Adha."
Sahih al-Bukhari (917) and Sahih Muslim (886)
May Allah SWT bless us with understanding in our religion. Wallhua’lam.