The Islamic ruling of the 'Eid prayer

Shaikh-ul-Islam Ibn Taymeeyah said:

"...and consequently we have deemed as being the strongest opinion that the 'Eid prayer is obligatory upon all individuals.

Like the opinion of Aboo Haneefah and others. This is also one of the opinions of ash-Shaafi'ee and one of the two opinions of Ahmad. The opinion of those who say 'it is not obligatory' is extremely far from the truth.

For indeed the 'Eid prayer is one of the symbols of Islam. The gathering of people for 'Eid is greater than that on the day of Jum'ah and the saying of takbeer has been permitted in 'Eid. The opinion of those who say that it is not obligatory upon everybody (Fard-ul-Kifayah) does not hold… "

The renowned scholar ash-Shawkanee said in as-Sail al-Jaraar (1/315)

"Know! that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) continually practised this prayer on every 'Eid. He (Peace be upon him) never, in any one of the 'Eids left it. He (Peace be upon him) ordered the people to go to it so much so that he (Peace be upon him) also ordered the egression of the mature women, young girls and the menstruating women. He (Peace be upon him) also ordered the menstruating women to stay away from the prayer, witness the good and witness the supplications of the Muslims. He (Peace be upon him) ordered the egression of women for this event to such an extent that he (Peace be upon him) ordered the women who did not possess an outer-garment to be clothed with the outer-garments of their Companions. All of this shows that the 'Eid prayer is definitely compulsory upon all individuals and not just upon some people. The order to egress to the musallaa necessitates the order to pray the 'Eid prayer, for one who has no excuse; as is implied from the tone of this message. This is because "egression" is a means to the prayer. Therefore the fact that the means is obligatory necessitates that the objective (the prayer) is obligatory. Also the men are more deserving of this ruling than the women."

He then said: "And from the evidences regarding the 'Eid prayer being obligatory is that if the Friday prayer and the 'Eid coincide upon one day, then the 'Eid prayer cancels out the Friday prayer. Therefore that which is not obligatory cannot cancel out that which is obligatory. Also it has been established that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) continually practised the 'Eid prayer in congregation, from the time it was legislated until he died; and added to this continual practising of the 'Eid prayer is his ordering the people to egress to the prayer."

Our Shaykh Al-Albaanee said in Tamaamul-Minnah (p.344) after quoting the hadeeth of Umm 'Ateeyah:

"Thus the 'command' that is mentioned indicates it being obligatory. Since, if proceeding (to the musallaa) is an obligation then by right the prayer is an obligation and this is clear. Thus the truth is that it is obligatory and not just a Sunnah."