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Cold Weather & `Eid Prayer in the Open Air

04 July, 2016
Q Is it well known that Muslims are encouraged to perform the `Eid Prayers in open places such as parks? With such very cold weather in some parts of the world, is it still encouraged for Muslims there to perform `Eid Prayers in open places?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear questioner! Thank you for your question and the confidence you place in our service. We pray to Allah to enable us render this service purely for His Sake.

`Eid is the day of happiness and unity on which Muslims get the chance to celebrate the praises of their Lord, see each other, heal any rifts between them, and show kindness to one another.

Muslims are commanded to celebrate their unity and cooperation in the broadest terms because this will indirectly attract non-Muslims towards Islam and remove the stains of hatred and malice from their fellow brothers and sisters.

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Tackling the question, the prominent Muslim scholar Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:

The intent and purpose of holding the `Eid Prayers in open areas is to provide for the greatest number of Muslims, regardless of sex and age differences, to meet and exhibit the solidarity and unity and experience the same. So, whenever and wherever we are unable to meet in the open air due to constraints of space, time, or weather conditions, we should go for the next closest thing towards implementing the ideal: meet in open halls or conference centers, exhibition places, etc. where we can accommodate such large numbers in order to provide not only for Prayers, but also for other services that impart the spirit of the `Eid celebration.

This is especially important when we take into account the fact that unless we allow our children to celebrate the `Eid as a joyous occasion, they will simply not appreciate the `Eid for what it is. They would only know Christmas and come to think that there is no room in Islam for any merrymaking or fun.

So, come out of the constraints of mosques and celebrate the `Eid as a memorable occasion for everyone.

Allah Almighty knows best