Eid Prayer in the Jami‘ Mosque for Those with an Excuse

Question

The Eidgah (open ground for the Eid prayer) is about a mile away from the village, and people find it hard to go so far. All around the Eidgah is land belonging to non-Muslims. The villagers want to build an Eidgah nearby. If they build another Eidgah, what should be done with this Eidgah? The non-Muslims will desecrate it, and protecting the first Eidgah will be difficult. The village becomes empty of Muslims, the women and others are left alone, and there is a danger of harm from non-Muslims.

Answer

Do not abandon the old Eidgah; go there and pray there. And in the village as well, for example in the Jami‘ mosque, arrange an Eid prayer, and let the weak and those with an excuse (ma‘dhur) pray here. In this way those with excuses will not face hardship, and the village will not be left empty either.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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