Is Eid salah fard? A Detailed Look at Islamic Rulings on Eid Prayer

Many Muslims wonder, is Eid salah fard? Eid prayer (Salat al-Eid) is a significant act of devotion for Muslims, but the scholars differ in their views on whether it is Fard (obligatory) or Sunnah (preferable but not obligatory).   

Is Eid Prayer Fard or Sunnah? Islamic Views Explained

Here are the Scholarly Opinions on is eid salah fard or not:

Wajib (Obligatory) – Hanafi School

• Hanafi school considers Eid prayer as Wajib (obligatory but not to the extent of Fard).
• They base this on the command of the Prophet ﷺ and his regular practice of it.
• Sunnah Mu’akkadah (Strongly Recommended) – Maliki and Shafi’i Schools
• Maliki and Shafi’i schools classify Eid prayer as Sunnah Mu’akkadah (strongly recommended), i.e., strongly advised but not obligatory.

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Fard Kifayah (Communal Obligation) – Hanbali School

Is eid salah fard from the Hanbali school of thought? The Hanbali school of thought holds the view that Eid prayer is a collective obligation (Fard Kifayah), i.e., if enough people recite it, the others are relieved of the obligation.

Though the Eid prayer itself is not directly mentioned in the Quran, scholars refer to the following verses:

“So pray to your Lord and offer sacrifice.” [Surah Al-Kawthar (108:2)]

Some interpreters interpret “pray” here to mean Eid Salah, as it is preceded by the act of sacrifice in Eid al-Adha.

“He has certainly succeeded who purifies himself, and mentions the name of his Lord and prays.” [Surah Al-A’la (87:14-15)]

Many scholars equate this verse with the Eid prayer, as purification (payment of Zakat al-Fitr) and prayer are components of Eid.
Ibn Abbas (RA) reported: 

“The Prophet ﷺ went out on the day of Eid and prayed two rak’ahs and did not pray before or after it.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 956; Sahih Muslim, 884)

Umm Atiyah (RA) narrated:

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded us to bring out the young girls, menstruating women, and the veiled women for the Eid prayer, but the menstruating women should stay away from the prayer itself.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 971; Sahih Muslim, 890)

The hadith is proof of the amount of emphasis laid on offering Eid Salah even by women who didn’t normally pray in the masjid.

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What Do Scholars Say About the Obligation of Eid Salah?

Eid Salah is one of the most significant prayers in Islam performed during Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. However, scholars have not reached a consensus on is eid salah fard (mandatory) or merely Makruh (preferable).

Below is an in-depth analysis of their view from an Islamic standpoint.

Is Eid Salah Fard According to the Hanafi School?

• The Hanafi school considers Eid Salah to be Wajib (mandatory but slightly less than Fard). This means that skipping it without a valid excuse is sinful.
• The Hanafis base their ruling on the fact that the Prophet ﷺ consistently performed the Eid prayer and commanded others to do so.

Is Eid Salah Fard or Sunnah According to Maliki and Shafi’i Schools?

• The Maliki and Shafi’i schools hold that Eid Salah is not Fard but Sunnah Mu’akkadah (a highly emphasized Sunnah). While they agree that Eid prayer is very important, they do not consider it obligatory.
• According to them, skipping it is not sinful, but it means missing out on a significant act of worship.

Is Eid Salah Fard Kifayah According to the Hanbali School?

• The Hanbali school is different in that they view Eid Salah Fard Kifayah (a collective obligation). What this means is that if there is a large number of people in the community to offer the Eid prayer, the responsibility is lifted from the others.
• But if nobody offers it at all, then the entire community is guilty.

Who Should Perform Eid Salah? Rules for Men, Women, and Children

Eid Salah is a special prayer that points towards the Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha celebrations. The majority of them inquired, “Is Eid Salah Fard?” and whether or not it is compulsory for men, women, and children as well.

What follows below details who is required to offer Eid prayer according to Islamic principles.

Is Eid Salah Fard for Men?

• Most scholars agree that Eid Salah is Fard or Wajib for men, depending on the school of thought. The Hanafi school considers it Wajib (obligatory but slightly lower than Fard), while the Hanbali school classifies it as Fard Kifayah (a communal obligation).
• The Maliki and Shafi’i schools state that it is Sunnah Mu’akkadah (highly recommended but not Fard).
• Men are strongly advised to offer Eid prayer in congregation at the mosque or an open field. The Prophet ﷺ always used to offer Eid Salah with his companions, placing a lot of emphasis on it.

Is Eid Salah Fard for Women?

For women, the ruling is different from for men. The scholars are mostly in agreement that Eid Salah is not Fard on women but is still recommended. The Prophet ﷺ had urged women, even those not usually in attendance at the mosque, to come for the Eid congregation.

Umm Atiyah (RA) reported:

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded us to bring out the young girls, menstruating women, and the veiled women for the Eid prayer, but the menstruating women should stay away from the prayer itself.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 971; Sahih Muslim, 890)

This hadith shows that while Eid Salah is not Fard for females, it is very much recommended that they do so, if they are able.

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Is Eid Salah Fard for Children?

Eid Salah is not mandatory for children, but they are invited to participate. Since children are not yet accountable for Islamic obligations, children are not required to pray Eid Salah.

However, bringing children to the Eid gathering will make them accustomed to Islamic worship and strengthen their faith.

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Conclusion

While scholars debate whether Eid Salah is Fard, all agree that it is an important and special prayer that should not be neglected without a valid reason.

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FAQs

Do You Have to Pray Eid Salah?

Although there is debate among scholars regarding whether Eid Salah is Fard, they all agree that it is an important and special prayer which should not be neglected without cause.

Is It Sinful to Miss Eid Prayer?

Missing Eid prayer without a valid reason is considered sinful according to the Hanafi school, but not sinful according to Maliki and Shafi’i scholars, though it is highly discouraged.