Avoidance of the Pulpit (Minbar) for the Eid Sermon
Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
❖ The Use of a Pulpit in Eid Khutbah Is Not Legislated
According to authentic reports, the Prophet ﷺ did not use a minbar (pulpit) when delivering the Eid sermon. This practice is supported by the reliable narration of Abu Saʿīd al-Khudri (رضي الله عنه) regarding the Prophet’s ﷺ manner of delivering the sermon after Eid prayer.
➊ Facing the People While Standing
فيقوم مقابل الناس
“…and he (the Prophet ﷺ) would stand facing the people.”
— [Sahih al-Bukhari: 956 | Sahih Muslim: 889]
This Hadith clearly shows that the Prophet ﷺ stood before the congregation after offering Eid prayer, without mounting a pulpit.
✿ Commentary Reference:
Al-Sanʿāni mentions in Subul al-Salām (2/679) that this is clear evidence against the use of a minbar in the Eid congregation.
➋ Historical Introduction of the Minbar by Marwān
Another narration in Sahih al-Bukhari states:
إن أول من اتخذ المنبر فى مصلى العيد مروان
“The first person to set up a pulpit in the Eid prayer ground was Marwān (governor of Madinah).”
— [Sahih al-Bukhari: 956]
This historical note confirms that the use of a minbar in the Eid ground was a later innovation, not practiced during the Prophet’s ﷺ time.
➌ Permissibility of Delivering Sermon While Mounted
There is a narration in Ibn Ḥibbān that mentions:
خطب يوم عيد على راحلته
“The Prophet ﷺ delivered the Eid sermon while mounted on his riding animal.”
— [Ibn Ḥibbān: 2825 | Abū Yaʿlā: 1182]
✿ Hadith Authentication:
Imam al-Haythami said its narrators are those of Sahih.
Shaykh Shuʿayb al-Arna’ūt confirmed the chain to be on the conditions of Sahih Muslim.
— [Majmaʿ al-Zawā’id: 2/205 | Ibn Khuzaymah: 1445 | Commentary on Subul al-Salām by Ṣubḥī Ḥasan Ḥallāq: 3/231]
This shows that delivering the sermon from a mounted position, such as a camel or horse, is permissible and valid — though not the same as installing a formal minbar in the prayer ground.
❖ Summary
✔ The Prophet ﷺ did not use a minbar for Eid sermons.
✔ He would simply stand in front of the congregation or deliver it while mounted, as authentically reported.
✔ The practice of placing a pulpit in the Eid ground was introduced later by Marwān, and not rooted in the Sunnah.
