The Eid Prayer in More Than One Place

Question

In a certain field there is an Eidgah (open ground for the Eid prayer) where a gathering of 1000 or 2000 people takes place. Some mischief-maker, over a worldly dispute, takes a few men with him, separates from this congregation and sets up an Eidgah in another place. What is the ruling on setting up such an Eidgah, which will be a cause of strife and discord and will amount to splitting the congregation of the Muslims?

Answer

It is better for the Eid prayer to be performed in one place. However, because of extraneous circumstances — for example, if the place is cramped, or there are quarrels over the imamate, and so on — there is also no harm in performing it in more than one place. Indeed, if in one place there is fear of strife and discord, then it is better to perform it separately.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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