By IYABO AINA

Most Imams are inundated with calls and questions on whether women are allowed to observe the eid prayers. A couple of hadiths emphasised on the issue giving the leeway to women to proceed to eid, observe the superrogatory prayers and participate in the joyous occasion of eid.

Although, eid prayers is not obligatory for women, but it is sunnah. Women should endeavour to fulfil that aspect of sunnah and proceed to eid to offer the two superrogatory prayers at the praying-ground with other Muslims. This is so, because the Prophet (s.a.w) enjoined them to do that.

It is narrated in one of the hadiths related by Umm ‘Atiyah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: “We were commanded to go to the Eid prayers with girls and the women in seclusion, and he commanded the menstruating women to avoid the prayer-place of the Muslims.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1/93; Muslim, 890.

According to a report narrated by al-Tirmidhi: The Messenger of Allaah (s.a.w) used to everybody, adolescent girls, women in seclusion and menstruating women on the two Eids, but the menstruating women would watch from a close distance to the eid. One of them asked, “O Messenger of Allaah, what if she does not have a jilbaab?” He said, “Then let her sister lend her one of her jilbaabs.”

It should be noted that as they are permitted to go to eid, they are not permitted to go out unveiled or making a wanton display of themselves. The essence of this was to ensure that no one is prevented from participating in the joyous celebration of ‘Eid. The hadith urges everyone to attend Eid prayer, and to co-operate with one another in righteousness and piety. The menstruating woman should not forsake the remembrance of Allah or places of goodness such as gatherings for the purpose of glorifying and remembering Allaah.