Is `Eid Prayer Compulsory for Ladies?

Praise be to Allah.

`Eid prayer is not obligatory for women, but it is Sunnah. Women should offer this prayer in the prayer-place with the Muslims, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) enjoined them to do that. 

It is narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim and others that Umm `Atiyah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “We were commanded (and in one report it says, he commanded us – meaning the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)) to bring out to the `Eid prayers the adolescent girls and the women in seclusion, and he commanded the menstruating women to avoid the prayer-place of the Muslims.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 1/93; Muslim, 890) According to another report: “We were commanded to come out and to bring out the adolescent girls and those in seclusion.”  

According to a report narrated by At-Tirmidhi, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to bring out the virgins, adolescent girls, women in seclusion and menstruating women on the two `Eids, but the menstruating women were to keep away from the prayer place and witness the gathering of the Muslims. One of them said, “O Messenger of Allah, what if she does not have a jilbab?” He said, “Then let her sister lend her one of her jilbabs.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim )

According to a report narrated by Al-Nasa’i, Hafsah bint Sirin (may Allah have mercy on her) said: Umm `Atiyyah hardly ever mentioned the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) but she would say, “May my father be sacrificed for him.” I said, “Did you hear the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say such and such,” and she said, “Yes, may my father be sacrificed for him, and he said, `Let the adolescent girls, women in seclusion and menstruating women come out to attend `Eid and witness the gathering of the Muslims, but let the menstruating women avoid the prayer place.’” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 1/84) 

Based on the above, it is clear that for women to go out and attend the `Eid prayers is a confirmed Sunnah, but that is subject to the condition that they do not go out unveiled or making a wanton display of themselves, as is known from other evidence. 

With regard to boys who have reached the age of discretion going out to the `Eid prayer , Jumu`ah prayers, etc., this is something which is well known and is prescribed in Islam, because there is a great deal of evidence to that effect.  

And Allah is the Source of strength.