23/05/2026
Question: Recently, according to the statements of some scholars, women are being encouraged to perform Eid prayers at the Eidgah, claiming that it is Sunnah and proven by Hadith. We request a detailed explanation according to the ruling of Islamic Shariah.
Answer: At the Eidgah or Eid prayer ground, people from all levels of society gather together. When the ruling of Eid prayer was introduced in the second year of Hijrah, women who had reached puberty and adult girls were also instructed to go to the Eidgah in order to demonstrate the large number of Muslims and the grandeur of Islam.
Hazrat Umm Atiyyah رضي الله عنها narrated a Hadith regarding this matter. The English translation of it is somewhat like this: “The Messenger of Allah صلى الله تعالى عليه وسلم instructed that young women, menstruating women, and women observing seclusion should also come out to the Eidgah on the occasions of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. However, menstruating women were to stay away from the prayer while still participating in the blessings of the gathering and the supplications of the Muslims. Umm Atiyyah رضي الله عنها mentioned that some women did not even possess a proper outer garment, so the Prophet صلى الله تعالى عليه وسلم advised that another sister should lend them one.” (Sahih Muslim, Vol. 3, p. 20, Hadith no. 2093)
However, later on, with the increasing emphasis on strict observance of hijab and the gradual rise of social disorder and fitnah, restrictions were imposed during the caliphate of Hazrat Umar Farooq-e-Azam رضي الله عنه regarding women attending Eidgahs, Jumu’ah prayers, and the regular congregational prayers in mosques.
Another Hadith narrated by Hazrat Usama ibn Zayd رضي الله عنه has an English translation somewhat like this: “The Messenger of Allah صلى الله تعالى عليه وسلم said that among the trials left for the Ummah, one of the greatest sources of temptation for men would be women.” (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith no. 480; Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith no. 154)
Furthermore, the context behind the Hadith of Hazrat Umm Atiyyah رضي الله عنها was different from present circumstances. The purpose at that time was to display the strength and large numbers of the Muslim community before the disbelievers and hostile groups. Otherwise, the Prophet صلى الله تعالى عليه وسلم would not have strongly instructed even menstruating women and those without proper clothing to attend the Eid gathering by borrowing garments from others.
In addition, during the blessed era of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله تعالى عليه وسلم and the caliphate of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq رضي الله عنه, women used to attend Jumu’ah prayers and the five daily congregational prayers in Masjid an-Nabawi. In that context, women were also encouraged to attend the Eid congregation. But later, during the caliphate of Hazrat Umar رضي الله عنه, as social corruption and fitnah began increasing, restrictions were introduced in order to safeguard women from those harmful conditions.
Therefore, according to this explanation, the participation of women in Eid prayers, based on the narration of Hazrat Umm Atiyyah رضي الله عنها, was not regarded as a permanent ruling applicable for all times. Rather, it was connected to a particular situation and period.
Moreover, when Hazrat Umar رضي الله عنه implemented these restrictions, none of the respected Sahabah objected to his decision. Because of this, the issue of women refraining from attending Eidgahs and congregational mosque prayers came to be regarded as established through the consensus (Ijma) of the Sahabah. This discussion is also mentioned in the commentary work Bidaya wan-Nihaya on the Hidayah.
Further narrations are also presented to support the opinion that it is safer and better for women not to attend Eidgahs and Jumu’ah congregations.
A narration from Ummul Mu’minin Hazrat Umm Salamah رضي الله عنها has an English translation somewhat like this: “The Prophet صلى الله تعالى عليه وسلم explained that the best place for a woman to offer her prayer is the most private and secluded area of her home.”
