is better for them than attending the Friday prayer and the other congregational prayers—except for Eid, for he ﷺ commanded them to go out for it; and perhaps, Allah knows best, for several reasons:

1. It occurs only twice in the year, so the occasion is infrequent, unlike Jumuʿah and the daily congregational prayers.
2. It has no substitute, whereas for Jumuʿah and the other congregational prayers a woman’s Zuhr at home counts as her Jumuʿah.
3. It is an outing to the open plain for the remembrance of Allah, and in some respects resembles the pilgrimage; hence the Greater Eid coincides with the season of Hajj in keeping with the pilgrims.” End quote.

The Shāfiʿīs, however, limited women’s attendance of the Eid prayer to those who are not of alluring appearance.

Imām al-Nawawī said in al-Majmūʿ (5|13): “Al-Shāfiʿī and our companions—may Allah have mercy on them—said: It is recommended for women who are not of attractive appearance to be present at the Eid prayer, while it is disliked for women of attractive appearance to attend.” He then said: “If they do go out, it is recommended that they wear plain, workday clothes, avoid anything that draws attention, cleanse themselves with water, and refrain from perfume. All of this concerns elderly women who are not desired and the like. As for young women, those possessed of beauty, and those who may feel desire, it is disliked for them to attend because of the fear of temptation both for them and by them.

If it is said, ‘This contradicts the hadith of Umm ʿAṭiyyah mentioned above,’ we reply: It is established in the two Ṣaḥīḥs that ʿĀʾishah—may Allah be pleased with her—said: ‘Had the Messenger of Allah ﷺ seen what women have introduced, he would have prevented them, just as they were prevented.’