Attendance at the Eid Khutbah Is Optional
Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
➤ Narrated by ʿAbdullāh ibn al-Sāʾib (رضي الله عنه):
“I was present with the Prophet ﷺ on the day of Eid. After completing the prayer, he said:
*‘We are going to deliver a sermon. Whoever wishes to sit for the khutbah, let him do so; and whoever wishes to leave, may leave.’”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: 1024, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh: Bāb al-Julūs lil-Khuṭbah, Abū Dāwūd: 1155, Ibn Mājah: 1290, Nasāʾī: 3/185, Ibn Khuzaymah: 1362, Bayhaqī: 3/301]
✔ The Eid sermon is not obligatory to attend.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ granted permission to those who wanted to leave after the prayer.
The attendance at the Eid khutbah is optional, unlike the Jumuʿah sermon which is obligatory for men. This is a clear Prophetic concession allowing individuals to leave after performing the Eid prayer if they so wish.
Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
✦ Ruling Regarding the Eid Sermon (Khuṭbah)
➤ Narrated by ʿAbdullāh ibn al-Sāʾib (رضي الله عنه):
“I was present with the Prophet ﷺ on the day of Eid. After completing the prayer, he said:
*‘We are going to deliver a sermon. Whoever wishes to sit for the khutbah, let him do so; and whoever wishes to leave, may leave.’”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: 1024, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh: Bāb al-Julūs lil-Khuṭbah, Abū Dāwūd: 1155, Ibn Mājah: 1290, Nasāʾī: 3/185, Ibn Khuzaymah: 1362, Bayhaqī: 3/301]✦ Key Point
✔ The Eid sermon is not obligatory to attend.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ granted permission to those who wanted to leave after the prayer.
Conclusion
The attendance at the Eid khutbah is optional, unlike the Jumuʿah sermon which is obligatory for men. This is a clear Prophetic concession allowing individuals to leave after performing the Eid prayer if they so wish.
