Where should the Eid prayer be performed?
Chapter on the Two Eid Prayers
Al-Mughni
Book of Friday Prayer
Primary text
It is recommended that the Eid prayer be performed in the Musalla (open prayer ground). This was commanded by Ali, may God be pleased with him, and approved by Al-Awza'i, the As'hab al-Ra'y, and Ibn Al-Mundhir. The evidence is the practice of the Prophet, peace be upon him, who used to go out to the Musalla and abandon his mosque, as did the Caliphs after him. The Prophet, peace be upon him, would not forsake the superior act while it was accessible, nor undertake a lesser act when a superior one was available. Furthermore, the Muslim community in every age and place exits to the Musalla to pray Eid, regardless of whether the mosque is spacious or narrow. The Prophet, peace be upon him, prayed in the Musalla despite the honor of his mosque. This practice is considered an established consensus among Muslims. Performing voluntary prayer at home is superior to performing it in the mosque despite the mosque's honor, and thus the Eid prayer, being superior, should be outside if possible.
Supporting text
It is related from Al-Shafi'i that if the city mosque is spacious, praying there is preferable because it is the best and purest of places, citing the practice of the people of Mecca praying in the Sacred Mosque. However, this is refuted because the Prophet, peace be upon him, did not pray Eid in his mosque except due to an excuse. When Ali was asked to pray in the mosque for the weak and blind, he refused to contradict the Sunnah, instead appointing someone to lead the remaining four rak'ahs in the mosque for those unable to go out.