Question:-
Is it Sunnah to proceed to the Eidgah immediately after the Fajr Salaah without returning home?
Answer:-
We do not find an explicit ruling in the Kitaabs of Fiqh in regards to this issue. However, it is from amongst the Sunnats of the day of Eid to proceed early to the Eidgah. Also, it is Sunnah to walk to the place of Eid Salaah.
عن سعد بن أبي وقاص رضي الله عنه أن النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم كان يخرج إلى العيد ماشيا ويرجع ماشيا. (ابن ماجة رقم 1294)
The Eidgah is normally out of the town, hence it will take a person a considerable amount of time to walk to the place of Eid Salaah particularly if it is at a distance. Secondly, one should reach the Eidgah early so that he may acquire the reward of another Sunnah. Now, keeping these Sunnats in mind, if one has to go home after Fajr Salaah and prepare himself for the Eid Salaah, then acting on both Sunnahs (discussed above) may not be possible, particularly when the Eid Salaah is held shortly after sunrise (in most places in our country).
Based on the above discussion, we assume that it will be preferable to proceed to the Eidgah after the Fajr Salaah (instead of going home) so that one may comfortably act upon all the Sunnats of the day of Eid.
However, if a person’s home, the Masjid and the Eidgah are all in close proximity to each other and therefore acting upon all the Sunnats of the day is therefore possible and time also permits, then one is at liberty to return home after Fajr Salaah and thereafter proceed to the Eidgah.
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date: 02 Jumadal Ukhra 1443 / 05 January 2022
