Should One Pray in the New Eidgah or the Old One

Question

More than about 35 years have now passed since the people of all the surrounding neighbourhoods and villages together set up an Eidgah (open ground for the Eid prayer) at one spot on government land, and at the same time built a minbar and have, to the best of their ability, been praying the Eid prayer there. Alongside it a government L.P. (lower primary) school was also established. Now all the income that comes from the said government land is spent entirely on the school’s expenses.

Answer

In land that has been made waqf for an Eidgah and that the owner has given willingly, the prayer is valid; and praying on someone else’s land without the owner’s permission is makruh. However, if there is a fear of fitna (strife), then it is better that both parties agree to appoint one competent person of knowledge and sound judgement as arbiter (hakam)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

Preview. The full text opens with JavaScript enabled.