Bismillahi Ar-Rahmaani Ar-Raheem,Assalama alaikum warahmatu Allaah wabarakatu, wa ba3d, The Messenger of Allaah ( Sallalaahu 'alayhi wa sallam ) said, 'Whoever revives a Sunnah from my Sunnah and the people practise it will have the same reward as those who practise it without their reward diminishing. ..' [Sunnan Ibn Maajah (209)].

Eid Prayer

Question: What is the ruling on the Eid Prayer?

Answer: I consider the 'Eid prayer to be an obligation upon every individual (Fardh 'Ain) and that it is not permissible for men to leave it. Rather it is an obligation upon them to attend it, because the Prophet ( r) commanded it; in fact, he (r) commanded the young, veiled women to go out to the 'Eid prayer. Indeed, he (r) commanded the menstruating women to go out to 'Eid prayer. Indeed, he commanded the menstruating women to go out to the 'Eid prayer, but to keep away from the prayer place. All of this proves the obligation of it; and this opinion which I have mentioned is the most authoritative opinion, and it was the chosen view of Shaikh Al-Islam, Ibn Taimiyyah.

But it is like the Friday prayer, in that if it is missed, it is not made up for, as there is no evidence that it is necessary to make it up, and no prayer need be offered in place of it, because if the Zuhr prayer in its place, because the time of it is Zuhr time, whereas if the 'Eid prayer is missed, it is not made up for.

My advice to my Muslim brothers is to fear Allah, the Almighty, the All-Powerful and perform this prayer which consists of goodness, supplication, meeting the people, and fostering harmony and love between them. If the people were invited to a gathering for the purpose of vain pursuits, you would see those who attend rushing to it. Why is this so, when the Messenger ( r) has invited them to this prayer by which they attain a reward from Allah, the Most Glorified, the Most High which is their right according to His Promise?

But it is incumbent upon the women when they go out to this prayer to stay clear of the place of the men, and to be in a corner of the Masjid which is far from the men and not to go out beautifully adorned and smelling of perfume or displaying their beauty.

This is why, when the Prophetr ordered the women to go out to it they asked him: Oh, Messenger of Allah! If one of us does not have a Jilbab?' He r said:

' Her sister should cover her with her Jilbab'

The Jilbab is a sheet or something resembling an 'Aba'ah. This proves that the women must go out covered in a Jilbab, because the Messenger r said:

' Her sister should cover her with her Jilbab'

It is incumbent upon the Imam, I mean the Imam of the Eid prayer, when he delivers the sermon to the men, to deliver a special sermon to the women if they can not hear the men's sermon, then it is sufficient.

However, it is preferred for him to end the sermon wit mention of rulings particular to women, admonishing them and reminding them ( of Allah) as he Prophet r used to do when he addressed the men during the Eid prayer turning to the women, he would admonish them and remind them (of Allah)

Taken from Fatawa Arkanul-Islam page562-562By The Honorable Shaikh Muhammad bin Saalih al-Uthaymeen