Quran
Hadith
Islamic Text
Yes, it is Makruh to pray Nafl before Eid prayer at home or at the Eid Musalla (place of prayer). It is also Makruh to pray Nafl after Eid prayer, at the Eid Musalla. However, it is permitted to pray Nafl after Eid prayer at home.
عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ صَلَّى يَوْمَ الفِطْرِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ لَمْ يُصَلِّ قَبْلَهَا وَلاَ بَعْدَهَا
Ibn Abbas (May Allah Most High be pleased with them both) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ prayed two Rakahs on the day of al-Fitr but did not pray (anything) before it or after it. (Sahih al-Bukhari, 964).
As we see in the authentic narration above, the Holy Prophet ﷺ did not pray Nafl before or after Eid. For this reason the Hanafi scholars considered it Makruh (Tanzeehi) to pray Nafl before Eid Salah, at home or at the Musalla (place of prayer). After Eid Salah it is Makruh to pray Nafl at the Musalla but permitted at home.
(قَوْلُهُ: وَلَا يَتَنَفَّلُ فِي الْمُصَلَّى قَبْلَ صَلَاةِ الْعِيدِ) وَعَامَّةُ الْمَشَايِخِ عَلَى كَرَاهَةِ التَّنَفُّلِ قَبْلَهَا فِي الْمُصَلَّى وَالْبَيْتِ، وَبَعْدَهَا فِي الْمُصَلَّى خَاصَّةً؛ لِمَا فِي الْكُتُبِ السِّتَّةِ عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ «أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – خَرَجَ فَصَلَّى بِهِمْ الْعِيدَ لَمْ يُصَلِّ قَبْلَهَا وَلَا بَعْدَهَا». (فتح القدير فتح القدير)
His saying: It is not permitted to pray Nafl at the Musalla (place of prayer) before Eid. Most scholars consider it to be Makruh to pray Nafl prayer at the Musalla or at home before it (Eid prayer). After it (Eid prayer) it is only Makruh (to pray Nafl) at the Musalla (therefore permitted at home). This is due to the narration from Ibn Abbas in the six books: The Prophet ﷺ went out and prayed Eid prayer with them but did not pray before it or after it. (Imam Kamal al-Deen Ibn al-Humaam, Fath al-Qadeer Sharh al-Hidaayah).
(ولا يَتَنَفَّلُ) أي وكُرِه التنفل (قَبْلَ صَلاَتِهِ) سواء كان إماماً أو مأموماً (في المُصَلَّى) بالاتفاق، وفي البيت عند عامة المشايخ. لقول ابن عباس: «إنَّ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم خرج فصلَّى بهم العيد، لم يصلِّ قبلها ولا بعدها». متفق عليه. وكذا لا يتنفل بعد صلاته في المُصَلَّى عند الجمهور، ويتنفل في البيت. (فتح باب العناية بشرح النقاية)
And he must not pray Nafl, meaning it is disliked to pray Nafl, before praying it (Eid prayer). This is irrespective of him being the Imam or a follower. This is at the Musalla, by agreement, and at home according to the majority of scholars. This is due to the statement of Ibn Abbas (May Allah Most High be pleased with them both): The Prophet ﷺ went out and prayed Eid prayer with them but did not pray before it or after it. Agreed upon (by Bukhari and Muslim). Likewise he must not prayer Nafl after it (Eid Salah) at the Musalla according to the majority. However, he can pray Nafl at home. (Imam Ali al-Qari, Fath Bab al-Inayah Sharh al-Nuqayah).
And Allah Most High Knows Best.
-Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (30.04.2022)
See also:
Is Eid prayer Fard
Are there special Sunnahs for Eid day?
