Q: Salaah-175: (1) What do the Ulema of Deen and the Muftis have to say about whether performing the Eid salaah in the Eid Gah is Sunnah Mu'akkadah, Sunnah Ghayr Mu'akkadah or just better?

(2) If Sunnah Mu'akkadah, will the person not carrying it out be sinful?

(3) If Sunnah Mu'akkadah, please furnish proof form authentic sources.

Answer: (1) and (3). Performing the Eid salaah in the Eid Gah is Sunnah Mu'akkadah Mutawaatirah. Despite the virtues of performing salaah in the Masjidun Nabawi, Rasulullaah SAW. always performed the Eid salaah at the Eid Gah. Only once was it performed in the Masjid on account of rain. See Zaadul Ma'aad (Vol.1 P5.124) , Sharhul Wiqaayah (Vol. 1 P5.245) and Kitaabul Madkhal (Vol.2 Pg.82)

(2) Performing the Eid salaah at the Eid Gah is Sunnah Mu'akkadah and one who forsakes it without an excuse is liable for reproach and doing so habitually will make one a sinner. Shaami (Vol.5 Pg.295) states, "Perpetrating a Makrooh Tahreemi act makes one a sinner, just as one becomes a sinner by forsaking a Waajib (compulsory) act and a Sunnah Mu'akkadah act.

If it is difficult for the old an weak to reach an Eid Gah that is far out of town, Fuqahaa have mentioned that arrangements can be made for them to perform the Eid salaah in the Masjid because they agree that it is permissible for two Eid salaahs to take place in one town. And Allaah knows best what is most correct.

Fatawa Rahimiyyah vol.2