are in the town, including travelers and women, as was the practice. For all Muslims, men and women alike, used to attend the Eid prayer with the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. The view that it is an individual obligation is stronger than the view that it is a communal obligation. As for the view that it is voluntary, this is very weak indeed. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, commanded it and consistently observed it, as did his successors and the Muslims after him. No Muslim land has ever been known to abandon the Eid prayer, which is among the greatest outward symbols of Islam.

Allah Most High says:
“And that you glorify Allah for having guided you.”

This and similar commands to proclaim Allah’s greatness on the two Eids imply, with even greater force, a command to perform the prayer that includes both the regular and additional takbīrs. If the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did not permit women to miss it, how could men be permitted to do so?

Anyone who says that it is a communal obligation may be told: this applies only to matters whose intended benefit is achieved when some people undertake them, such as burying the dead or overcoming the enemy. Eid does not involve a particular benefit that some people can secure on behalf of the rest. Rather, a greater gathering is prescribed for the Eid prayer than for Friday prayer. The Prophet commanded women to attend it, whereas they were not commanded to attend Friday prayer, but merely permitted to do so. He said:
“Your prayers in your homes are better for you.”

Moreover, how many people are needed to achieve this benefit? Whatever number is stipulated would be arbitrary, whether one, two, or three. If forty are stipulated, this is an analogy with Friday prayer, which is an individual obligation. Thus, no one may stay away from the Eid prayer