301 - Issue: He said: (Then they went out to the Musalla, demonstrating Takbir).

It is the Sunnah to perform the Eid prayer in the Musalla (prayer ground). Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, commanded this, and it was deemed good by al-Awza'i and the scholars of reason (Ashab al-Ra'y). This is also the opinion of Ibn al-Mundhir. It was narrated from al-Shafi'i that if the city's mosque is spacious, performing the prayer in it is more appropriate, because it is the best and purest of places, and for this reason, the people of Makkah pray in the Sacred Mosque (al-Masjid al-Haram). Our position is that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, used to go out to the Musalla and leave his mosque, and the Caliphs after him did the same. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, would not abandon the superior deed while it was within his reach to perform a lesser deed at a distance, nor would he prescribe for his Ummah the abandonment of virtuous deeds. Furthermore, we have been commanded to follow the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and to emulate him, and it is not permissible that what is commanded is the lesser act while what is prohibited is the perfect one. It was not reported from the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, that he prayed the Eid prayer in his mosque except due to an excuse. Moreover, this is the consensus of the Muslims, for in every age and city, people go out to the Musalla to perform the Eid prayer, regardless of whether the mosque is spacious or constricted. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, used to pray in the Musalla despite the nobility of his mosque, even though optional prayer (nafl) at home is better than in the mosque, despite its nobility. We have narrated from Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, that it was said to him: "The weak and the blind have gathered in the mosque; if only you would pray with them in the mosque?" He replied: "In that case, I would be opposing the Sunnah. Rather, we will go out to the Musalla, and I will appoint someone to lead them in four [rak'ahs] in the mosque" (1).

Section: It is recommended for the Imam, when he goes out, to appoint someone to lead the weak people in prayer in the mosque, as Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, did. Huzayl ibn Shurahbil (2) narrated: It was said to Ali, may Allah be pleased with him: "If only you would command a man to lead the weak people in prayer with ease in the Great Mosque?" He said: "If I command a man to lead the prayer, I would command him to pray with them (3) four [rak'ahs]." Narrated by Sa'id (4).