The ruling on holding Eid prayers in enclosed, roofed halls and stadiums
27 أيار 2025
السؤال :
Assalamu ‘Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakaatuh
May Allah prolong your life our Shaykh, father and teacher, ‘Abd al-Haqq Turkmani – May Allah preserve you -.
I have a question; we are a group of brothers in the UK who want to follow the Sunnah to the best of our ability. We ask Allah for success.
It is well known that one of the Sunan (practices of the Prophet ﷺ) of Eid prayer is to perform it in an open field (Musalla) outside the mosque. In the UK, we face some difficulties with this. However, this Eid, we found a place – a football field – which has a plastic roof covering it to protect the field from the weather conditions in this country. One of the mosque attendees objected and said that this act goes against the Sunnah and is a bid’ah (innovation), because he claims it is a condition that the Eid prayer be in an open area like a desert without a roof. It should be known, our mosque is small, and this field is larger in terms of size. In the future, during rainy seasons coinciding with Eid, we plan to use this covered field to protect the elderly and children.
So, is it a bid’ah to leave the mosque and pray in this place because of the roof? This person even stood up after Jumu’ah and addressed the people, causing a problems because of what he said. May Allah reward you.
الجواب :
Answer:
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds
1. The first thing to understand is that performing the Eid prayer in the “musalla” – an open area outside the city – is a practical Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him), but it is not a condition for the validity of the Eid prayer, nor is it an obligation. The scholars unanimously agreed that Eid prayer can be performed either in the mosque or in an open field. However, the majority of scholars said that performing it in the open field is the Sunnah, following the practice of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
2. Knowing that praying in the musalla is Sunnah and not obligatory, we should strive to do so when possible, so we may follow the Sunnah. The ideal is that it be in an open, outdoor space outside the city. If that is not possible, we should focus on the intended objectives behind this Sunnah and try to achieve them.
3. From the words and actions of the Prophet (peace be upon him), what is apparent is that the purpose of this action (i.e praying outside of the masjid) are two main purposes behind this Sunnah:
First: To publicly manifest this great Islamic ritual. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “This is our Eid, the people of Islam.” [Reported by Ahmad and Bukhari]
Ibn al-Najjar al-Hanbali (d. 972H) said in Sharh Muntaha al-Iradat (2/505):
“It is Sunnah to pray Eid in an open desert area close to the city. Abu Sa’id (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to go out to the musalla on Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.” [Agreed upon Bukhari and Muslim]. And the caliphs after him likewise did the same. Because this gives awe to Islam and makes its rituals more visible and it is not difficult since it doesn’t happen weekly like Jumu’ah.”
Second: To make it easier for a large number of Muslims to gather in one place for this ritual, to encourage attendance, and to increase the number of participants – magnifying the event and seeking Allah’s mercy and blessings on that day. This is why the Prophet (peace be upon him) instructed even women to attend, saying: “Let them witness the goodness and the supplication of the believers, and let menstruating women avoid the prayer area.” [Bukhari]
It is well known that mosques are usually too small for such large gatherings. Imam al-Shafi’i (may Allah have mercy on him) even clearly stated that this is the reason (i.e to go out of the Masjid to an open area to gather as much people as possible in one place) is why the Prophet (peace be upon him) went to the open field.
There is no evidence to suggest that the Prophet ﷺ intended for the Eid prayer to be in a place without a roof, as mentioned in the question. It just so happened that the area used was uncovered.
And since the scholars (Jurists) have agreed that Eid prayer is valid in the mosque – and mosques are roofed by necessity – we know that the presence or absence of a roof has no bearing on the validity or Sunnah nature of the Eid prayer.
Therefore, there is absolutely no harm in the brothers at the Islamic center renting a sports field or large hall for Eid prayer – whether it is covered or uncovered.
In fact, it is even preferable in some cases to choose a covered place for ease and comfort – especially in Britain, where it rains often and winters are harsh. With Eid falling in the winter for many years to come, it is a duty upon the leaders of Islamic centers to rent suitable, covered venues to protect the worshippers from cold and rain and to provide necessary facilities without hardship or harm coming to the Muslim's.
As for the behaviour of the brother who objected publicly infront of the attendees and caused a dispute among the worshippers and objected to what the administration of the Masjid had decided, may Allah forgive him – his action was wrong and inappropriate. If he wanted to discuss his viewpoint with the Masjid's administration he should have done so privately, not stirred fitnah among the people.
I ask Allah Almighty to bless the Muslims during Eid al-Adha 1446, and to accept from all of us our righteous deeds.
Written by:
Abd al-Haqq Turkmani
27 Dhul-Hijjah 1446
