Eidgah or Idgah عیدگاہ

Eidgah or Idgah (Urdu: عیدگاہ) is an open-air mosque usually outside of city (or at the outskirts) to perform Eid salah.

It was a practice of Prophet Muhammad^sawa to perform Eid Salaah in Eidgah at the outskirts of the city. Hence, It is Sunnah to perform Eid Salaah at the Eidgah.

The very first Eidgah was at the outskirts of Madina nearly 1000 footsteps from Masjid-e-Nabawi.

Muslims offering Id prayers at an Eidgah in Jammu on Friday. — Tribune photo by Anand Sharma

Masa’il Regarding the Eidgah & the Eid Salaah

 

• Complying to the Sunnah, performing of the Eid Salaah on the outskirts of the town is better and more virtuous, than performing it in the town.
• The Eid Salaah performed in the Masjid is complete, but performing it in the Eidgah is Sunnah. Without any valid excuse, not to read the Eid Sunnah in the Eidgah is contrary to the Sunnah.
• The Eid Salaah should be a huge gathering on the outskirts of the town. In this way the might and power of Islam is manifested. In the big cities it is difficult to make Eidgah on the outskirts of the city, therefore a huge open plain should be chosen for the Eidgah or according to the need, it can be performed in the Masjid, which will be correct. But as far as possible, one huge gathering is more superior compared to many small Eidgahs.
• Performing of the Eid Salaah in the Eidgah is Sunnat-e-Muak’kadah. Without any valid excuse, the one who does not perform his Eid Salaah in the Eidgah is worthy of being reprimanded and taken to task and this kind of a person is a sinner. If the Eidgah is a distance away and it is inconvenient for the old and sickly, then the Jurists have given permission for them to perform Eid Salaah in the Masjid.

See also

• Shahi Eidgah, Sylhet

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Performance of Eid Salah in Eidgah (Open Field)

The practice of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was to perform Eid Salaah on an open field at the outskirts of the city. It is thus Sunnah to perform Eid Salaah at the “Musallah” (Eid Gah).
Indeed in the time of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) women attended the Eid Salaah. Initially, women were permitted to even attend the daily Salaah in the Musjid. Subsequently, many senior Sahaaba (R. A.) stopped women from attending the Musjid due to the conditions having changed from that of the glorious era of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). Nevertheless, even in the time of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), the permission to attend the Musjid was subject to several conditions. Some of these were:

* Complete Hijaab (Purdah) – Hazrath Aisha (R.A.) reports that women used to come to the Musjid completely covered in their sheets (Sahih Bukhari).

* No perfume must be used – Hazrath Zainub (R.A.), the wife of Abdullah bin Masood (R.A.), reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “If any woman attends the Musjid, she should not use any perfume” (Sahih Muslim). In fact Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) has commanded that if women attend the Musjid, it should be in a manner that they are “tafilaat” (Abu Dawood). The word tafilaat is literally translated as untidy. In this context it will mean that they will not take any steps to adorn themselves. Rather they will be dressed in clothing that is completely unattractive. The purpose for this was to prevent every type of fitnah. Hazrath Aisha (R.A.) has also reported that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “Do not prevent the servants of Allah (women) from the Masaajid but they should go out “tafilaat” . After reporting this Hadith of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), Hazrath Aisha (R.A.) comments:
“Had Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) seen the condition of women today, he would have prevented them from attending the Musjid” (Jamiul Masaneed).
Allama Ainee (R.A. ) the author of the famous commentary of Sahih Bukhari comments that this was regarding the time of Hazrath Ayesha (R. A.). He then says regarding his time: “As for today, na-oothubillah ! (we seek Allah’s refuge from the fitna that is prevalent).” That too was several centuries ago.

* They should not be adorned in any way. It is reported that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was in the Musjid when a woman from the people of Muzaina who had adorned herself came into the Musjid. Upon this Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “O People, prevent your women from wearing attractive garments and walking proudly in the Musjid since the people of Bani Israeel were cursed because of this very action of their women (Ibn Majah).

* No intermingling of males and females. Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) ordered the women to stick to the edges of the road (to avoid any intermingling even due to the Musjid). Hence it is reported that after this command women walked so closely to the walls of the houses that their clothing would at times be caught in the wall (on anything that might have been protruding from the wall) (Abu Dawood). Similarly, Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) forbade women from walking in the middle of the path (Al-Jamius Sagheer, Vol. 5, Pg. 379).

Later when these conditions were not upheld as they were in the time of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasa1lam), many Sahaaba (R.A.) refrained women from attending the Musjid. It is reported that Hazrath Abdullah bin Umar (R.A.) used to chase women away from the Musjid. Hazrath Abdullah bin Masood (R.A.) also prevented the women from attending the Musjid (Targheeb).

SAME CONDITIONS
Whatever conditions applied to women attending the Musjid, the same will apply to the Eid Gah. When the strict conditions could not be upheld shortly after the era of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), in this time of fitna there is not even a faint chance that they will be upheld in the manner of the women in the time of Rasulullah (Sallallallu Alaihi Wasallam). Hence the decision of the Fuqaha is that women must not attend the Musjid or Eid Gah.

Imam Tirmizi (R.A.) has recorded the narration of Umme Atiya (R.A.) in his famous collection of Hadith. She says: “We were ordered to go out with the single and menstruating women to the two Eids…” After quoting the statement of Umme Atiy’a (R.A.), Imam Tirmizi (R.A.) quotes the statement of the great Muhaddith Abdullah bin Mubarak (R.A.) who said: “I believe that in these times it is makrooh for women to go for the Eid Salaah to the Eid Gah. If a woman insists on going, her husband should permit her to go in old clothes and she should not adorn herself. If she does not agree to this, he must prevent her…” It is also reported from Sufyaan Thawri (R.A.) that he regarded it as makrooh for the women to go to the Eid Salaah in these times (Jami Tirmizi).

EXPERTS OF HADITH REGARD IT AS MAKROOH
Imam Tirmizi (R.A.) is one of the great scholars of Hadith. His compilation, Jami Tirmizi, is one of the “Sihah Sitta.” He has concluded the discussion on the Hadith of Umme Atiya upon the statement of Abdullah bin Mubarak (R.A.) and Sufyan Thawri (R.A.). This is itself evidence that he is also of the view that it is not sunnat to go to the Eid Gah.

His quotation of Hazrath Abdullah bin Mubarak (R.A.) is very significant. Hazrath Abdullah bin Mubarak (R.A.) is the Ustaad of Imam Bukhari (R.A.). In his famous treatise titled “Raff’ul Yadain,” Hazrath Imam Bukhari (R.A.) described his Ustaad thus: “Imam Abdullah bin Mubarak is the greatest Aalim of his time. If people followed him rather than others who possess lesser knowledge, it would have been better.” This great personality, who himself was an expert in the knowledge of Hadith, and who was the Ustaad of the expert of Hadith in the calibre of Imam Bukhari (R.A.), declares clearly: ” According to me it is makrooh nowadays for women to emerge for the Eid Salaah to the Eid Gah!!”

ARDENT FOLLOWERS
The proverbial adherence to the Sunnah of Hazrath Abdullah bin Umar (R.A.) is well known. He would diligently practice on every sunnah of Raslllullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). It is reported that he would not take the women of his family to the Eid Gah (Musannaf ibn Abi Shaibah).

Thus an act which was prevented by many Sahaba (R.A.) who were the ardent followers of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihit Wasallam) cannot be encouraged in this time of extreme fitna and fasaad. On the one hand are the strict conditions that were set by Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) for women leaving their homes for Salaah. On the other hand is the lax attitude towards Deen of many Muslims of this era. To suggest that women should attend the Eid Gah is to open the doors to fitna. When Hazrath Aisha (R.A.) observed a slight departure; from the strict conditions in the time of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), she declared that had Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) been present he would have forbidden women from leaving their homes for Salaah. What would she have said if she witnessed the conditions of this day and age !

It is thus clear that women must not leave their homes for Salaah, whether it be the five daily Salaah, Jumu’ah, Taraweeh or Eid Salaah. Source

Eidgah

Ahâdîth

It is narrated by Hazrat Abu Sa’îd Khudri that on the Day of Eidul Fitr and Eidul Adha, Nabî Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam used to go out to the Musallâ [Eidgah]. The first thing he commenced with was Salât and thereafter he would turn facing towards the people for delivering the Khutbah whilst the people remained seated in their Saffs.

It is narrated by Hazrat Abû Hurairah Radhiallahu anhu that it rained on an Eid Day, so Nabi Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam performed the Eid Prayer for the people in the Masjid.

Commentary:

From the first hadîth we come to know that this was the common practice of Nabî Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam. The Eid Salâh A,as performed on the outskirts of Madinah Munawwarah in such a place which was stipulated for this, as if the Eidgah land was stipulated. At this time it did not even have four walls around it, it was just an open land. Its distance was approximately 1000 footsteps away from Masjide Nabawi. (Mariful Hadîth, Vol. 3, P.399)

From the second hadeeth we learn that only on one occasion due to rain Eid prayers were performed in the Masjid of Nabî Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam.

Masa’il Regarding the Eidgah & the Eid Salât

Complying to the Sunnat, performing of the Eid Salâh on the outskirts of the town is better and more virtuous, than performing it in the town. (Fatâwâ Darul Ulûm, Vol 5, P. 208)

The Eid Salâh should be a huge gathering on the outskirts of the town. In this way the might and power of Islam is manifested. In the big cities it is difficult to make Eidgah on the outskirts of the city, therefore a huge open plain should be chosen for the Eidgah or according to the need, it can be performed in the Masjid, which will be correct. But as far as possible, one huge gathering is more superior compared to many small Eidgahs. (Ahsanul Fatâwâ, Vol. 4, P. 119)

Performing of the Eid Salâh in the Eidgah is Sunnat-e-Muak’kadah. Without any valid excuse, the one who does not perform his Eid Salât in the Eidgah is worthy of being reprimanded and taken to task and this kind of a person is a sinner. If the Eidgah is a distance away and it is inconvenient for the old and sickly, then the Jurists have given permission for them to perform Eid Salât in the Masjid. (Fatâwâ Rahimiyah, Vol. 1, P.276)

The Eid Salât performed in the Masjid is complete, but performing it in the Eidgah is Sunnat. Without any valid excuse, not to read the Eid Salât in the Eidgah is contrary to the Sunnah. (Fatâwâ Ddrul Ulûm, Vol. 5, P.2261

The one who revives a Sunnah in the time of corruption will receive the reward of 100 martyrs (Hadîth) Source

 Shahi Eidgah,Sylhet

Eidgah or Idgah is an open-air mosque usually outside of city (or at the outskirts) to perform Eid salah. It was a practice of Prophet Muhammad to perform Eid Salaah in Eidgah at the outskirts of the city. Hence, It is Sunnah to perform Eid Salaah at the Eidgah. The very first Eidgah was at the outskirts of Madina nearly 1000 footsteps from Masjid-e-Nabawi.
Bakrid or Idul-Azha the festival of sacrifice, is the second of the two important festivals for Muslims in the state. In Kerala, as in other parts of the world, the day begins with every member of Muslim households dressing up in their best attire for prayers at the Id-Gah, the wide open space set aside for public prayers in towns and villages. The congregational prayers are led by the Imam.

After the ceremonial Id prayer, the Imam addresses the devotees, exhorting them to be conscious of their duties to God. Once the sermon is over, it is time to exchange greetings and the customary hug to signify brotherhood. The festivity continues at homes with celebratory feasts and social visits. Muslim women in Kerala pay visits to the neighbouring homes and take part in singing and dancing. In the evenings, special meetings are held in which members of non-Islamic communities participate. Such meetings are perfect examples of the spirit of tolerance and mutual friendship that exist between communities in the state.

The other more important Muslim festival is Idul-Fitr, which comes after a month of strict fasting. In certain parts of Kerala, some new practices in connection with the celebrations have been introduced like the invitation to members of sister communities to participate in Id functions.

Eid celebrations were somewhat split in the state with most of the state going ahead with festivities Friday while Kasargode district did so the day before.

The very first Eidgah in Kerala was at Thalassery.

Tags: Mosque, Muhammad, Prophet Muhammad, Qur'an, Ramadan, Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Bukhari, Sunnah