Celebrations In Islaam
The Eid Prayer and Khutbah

When the `Eed Falls on a Friday
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If the `Eed occurs on a Friday, it becomes optional for men to attend the Jumu`ah prayer. Abu Hurayrah (t) reported that, on such occurrence, Allaah's Messenger saws said:
Two `Eeds have coincided on this day of yours; thus, whoever wishes is exempted from attending the Jumu`ah prayer. Yet, we shall hold it.1

     And Iyaas Bin Abee Ramlah ash-Shaamee said:
"I witnessed Mu`aawiyah Bin Abee Sufyaan asking Zayd Bin Arqam, 'Were you with Allaah's Messenger saws when one of the `Eeds and Friday occurred on the same day?' He said, 'Yes.' He asked, 'What did he do?' He answered, 'He saws performed the `Eed prayer, then gave the option concerning Jumu`ah, saying, Let whoever wishes to pray it do so. "2

     This is the way of the companions (radiAllahu `anhum). For example, it is reported that on such occasion `Alee (radiAllahu `anhu) said:
"Let the one who wishes to come for Jumu`ah do so, and the one who wishes to sit do so."3

     A similar report is recorded by al-Bukhaaree in his Saheeh regarding `Uthmaan (radiAllahu `anhu). It is also reported that `Abdullaah Bin az-Zubayr (radiAllahu `anhu) said:
"These are two `Eeds that have come together on one day. Their coincidence makes them one (`Eed)."

     Then he prayed on that Friday two rak`aat in the morning as `Eed ul-Fitr prayer, and did not pray anymore until he prayed the `Asr prayer.4
     Ash-Shawkaanee (r) commented on this report:
"The apparent understanding from this is that he did not pray zuhr. And that if the Jumu`ah prayer is cancelled for any acceptable reason, then the one for whom it was cancelled is not required to pray zuhr. This is the opinion of `Ataa' ..."5

     Referring to the above reports and other similar ones from `Umar and Ibn `Abbaas (radiAllahu `anhum), Ibn Taymiyyah (r) concluded:
"The scholars have three different opinions (in this regard):
  1. That one is still obliged to pray the Jumu`ah - whether or not he prayed the `Eed. This is the opinion of Maalik and others.
     
  2. That the Jumu`ah becomes optional for the people of the suburbs and villages. This was practiced by `Uthmaan (radiAllahu `anhu), and ash-Shaafi`ee (r) took up this opinion.
     
  3. That the Jumu`ah becomes optional for whomever prayed the `Eed. However, the imaam is required to establish the Jumu`ah, so that those who wish to attend it can do so ...
     
     This is what has been authentically reported from Allaah's Messenger saws and his successors and Sahaabah (radiAllahu `anhum), and is the opinion of the later scholars who learned of these reports, such as Imaam Amad. Those who disagreed with him did not learn about these hadeeths and reports."6
  1. Recorded by Abu Daawood, an-Nasaa`ee, Ibn Maajah, and others; authenticated by al-Albaanee in Irwaa' ul-Ghaleel.  - Back to text 
     
  2. Abu Daawood, an-Nasaa`ee, Ibn Maajah, Ibn Khuzaymah, ad-Daarimee, and Ahmad. Imaam `Alee Bin al-Madeenee authenticated it in, al-Talkhees ul-Khabeer.  - Back to text 
     
  3. `Abdurrazzaaq in his Musannaf, and Ibn Abu Shaybah in his Musannaf with an authentic chain of narrators.  - Back to text 
     
  4. Abu Daawood and `Abdurrazzaaq with an authentic chain.  - Back to text 
     
  5. Nayl ul-Awtaar 3:348.  - Back to text 
     
  6. Al-Fataawee 4:212.  - Back to text 
     
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