Q:

Is it permissible to offer Eid al-Adha at home in light of COVID-19?

A:

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.

Thank you for your good question.

Eid Al-Adha has great spiritual, devotional, and social meanings. It implants in our hearts the spirit of sharing, caring, and giving back to our society.

This year, the Eid comes while we are going through very abnormal circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation. Therefore, we should celebrate the Eid while fully complying with the public heath instructions to curb the spread of the fatal virus and maintain the safety of all.

Some of the scholars say that Eid Prayers are Wajib (obligatory) – this is the view of the Hanafi scholars and of Imam Ibn Taymiyah. Some scholars say that Eid Prayer is Fard Kifayah (a communal duty, binding on the Muslims as a group, and it is fulfilled if a sufficient number of people perform it, thereby absolving the rest of sin). This is the view of the Hanbalis. A third group says that Eid Prayer is Sunnah Muakkadah. This is the view of the Malikis and Shafi`is.

It is, however, allowed for the person, who misses the Eid prayer with the community, to pray it at home. If it’s not allowed for Muslims at a given place/city/country to pray at the masjid or to gather for Eid due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, one may pray Eid at home. Also, a person who has health issues may pray Eid at home. One may pray it with the family, make takbeer before the prayer, and pray 2 rakahs with 7 takbeers in the first rakah and 5 in the second. There is no khutbah then.

May Allah accept your and our good deeds! 

Allah Almighty knows best.