What conditions are required for the obligation (Wujub) of the Eid prayer?
Chapter on the Two Eid Prayers
Al-Mughni
Book of Friday Prayer
Primary text
Residency (Istitaan) is stipulated for the obligation of the Eid prayer because the Prophet, peace be upon him, and his successors did not perform it while traveling. Furthermore, the specific number of people required for Jumu'ah (Friday prayer) is also stipulated because the Eid prayer resembles Jumu'ah as a festival prayer. There are two narrations regarding the Imam's permission; the sounder opinion is that it is not a prerequisite.
Supporting text
There are two differing narrations concerning the requirements for the validity (Sihha) of the Eid prayer. One opinion, attributed to Ahmad by Al-Qadi, suggests that the Eid prayer can only be established where the Jumu'ah prayer is established, which is the position of Abu Hanifa, though he restricts this to major cities (Misr). The second narration holds that it is valid even if performed by an individual, a traveler, a slave, or women, which is the view of Al-Hasan and Al-Shafi'i, as residency is not a condition for its validity, just as it is not a condition for voluntary prayers.