When is the Sunnah time for performing the Ghusl for Eid?
Chapter on the Two Eid Prayers
Al-Mughni
Book of Friday Prayer
Primary text
The time for Ghusl is after the rising of the dawn, according to the apparent statement of Al-Khiraqi, based on the saying: "When they wake up, they purify themselves." This timing ensures the purification is for the prayer of that day, and performing it before dawn does not fulfill the Sunnah of Ghusl, similar to the Ghusl for Jumu'ah. It is preferred to perform it after dawn to avoid scholarly disagreement and to be more thorough in cleanliness due to its proximity to the prayer time.
Supporting text
Al-Qadi and Al-Amidi stated that if one performs Ghusl before dawn, the Sunnah of the Ghusl is not achieved because the purification for the day's prayer should not precede the dawn. Ibn Aqil stated that the explicitly narrated view from Ahmad permits it before and after the dawn, reasoning that the time window for Eid is tighter than Jumu'ah, and performing it at night still achieves the intended cleanliness due to its proximity to the prayer.