Question: Are there any legislated sunnah prayers before the Eid prayer?
Answer: No, and praying sunnah before Eid is an innovation, unless in the masjid. And in this case a person greets the masjid with two rak’ah; as there might be something which prevents them from going to a musalla, or the community just doesn’t have an Eid musalla. This resembles some of the mountainous regions here, civil war between tribes, or heavy rain which get in the way of people going to the musallah. Hence, they pray two rak’ah then the Eid prayer in the masjid.
Praying two rak’ah sitting in the musalla is also an innovation. The Prophet (peace and
blessings be upon him) didn’t pray sunah before or after the Eid prayer. The hadeeth
from Abu Sa’eed (may Allah be pleased with him) which states the Prophet (peace and
blessings be upon him) prayed two rak’ah after the Eid has a defect which prevents it
from being authentic by way of Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Aqeel. This narration is
weak.
from [Ithaful Karaam]
Fataawa Series from the Scholars in Yemen -6 Eid al-Fitr
By Abu Abdur Rahman Yahya ibn Ali Al-Hajoree (May Allah preserve him), the Muhaddith, Sincere Avisor and Successor to Shaykh Muqbil (may Allah have mercy on him) in Dammaj;
Trans. Abu Aaliyah Abdullah ibn Dwight Battle Doha, Qatar 1430 ©
