Narrated Um 'Atiya (RA): "We used to be ordered to come out on the Day of 'Id and even bring out the virgin girls from their houses and menstruating women so that they might stand behind the men and say Takbir along with them and invoke Allah along with them and hope for the blessings of that day and for purification from sins." (Sahih Al-Bukhari)
Narrated Muhammad (RA): "Um 'Atiyya said: ‘Our Prophet ordered us to come out (on 'Id day) with the mature girls and the virgins staying in seclusion.’ Hafsa narrated the above mentioned Hadith and added, "The mature girls or virgins staying in seclusion but the menstruating women had to keep away from the Musalla." (Sahih Al-Bukhari)
Narrated Um'Atiya (RA): "We were ordered to go out (for 'Id) and also to take along with us the menstruating women, mature girls and virgins staying in seclusion. (Ibn 'Aun said, "Or mature virgins staying in seclusion)." The menstruating women could present themselves at the religious gathering and invocation of Muslims but should keep away from their Musalla." (Sahih Al-Bukhari)
Narrated Aiyub (RA): Hafsa bint Sirin said, "On Id we used to forbid our girls to go out for 'Id prayer. A lady came and stayed at the palace of Bani Khalaf and I went to her. She said, 'The husband of my sister took part in twelve holy battles along with the Prophet and my sister was with her husband in six of them. My sister said that they used to nurse the sick and treat the wounded. Once she asked, 'O Allah's Apostle! If a woman has no veil, is there any harm if she does not come out (on 'Id day)?' The Prophet said, 'Her companion should let her share her veil with her, and the women should participate in the good deeds and in the religious gatherings of the believers.' " Hafsa added, "When Um'Atiya came, I went to her and asked her, 'Did you hear anything about soandso?' Um'Atlya said, 'Yes, let my father be sacrificed for the Prophet (p.b.u.h). (And whenever she mentioned the name of the Prophet she always used to say, 'Let my father be' sacrificed for him). He said, 'Virgin mature girls staying often screened (or said, 'Mature girls and virgins staying often screenedAiyub is not sure as which was right) and menstruating women should come out (on the 'Id day). But the menstruating women should keep away from the Musalla. And all the women should participate in the good deeds and in the religious gatherings of the believers'." Hafsa said, "On that I said to Um'Atiya, 'Also those who are menstruating?' " Um'Atiya replied, "Yes. Do they not present themselves at 'Arafat and elsewhere?". (Sahih Al-Bukhari)
The renowned scholar ash-Shawkanee said in as-Sail al-Jaraar:
"Know! that the Prophet (SAW) continually practiced this prayer on every Eid. He (SAW) never, in any one of the Eids left it. He (SAW) ordered the people to go to it so much so that he (SAW) also ordered the egression* of the mature women**, young girls and the menstruating women. He (SAW) also ordered the menstruating women to stay away from the prayer, witness the good and witness the supplications of the Muslims. He (SAW) ordered the egression of women for this event to such an extent that he (SAW) ordered the women who did not possess an outer-garment to be clothed with the outer-garments of their Companions."***
*Translator’s Note: Due to the richness of the Arabic language and the limitation of the english language the word egression is the word that best portrays the original meaning of the Arabic. Since the word Khurooj in this context means to leave and proceed out to another place…"
**Ibn Atheer in an-Nihaayah said: "It is said the girl matured thus she is mature. Just like the saying she menstruated thus she is menstruating."
***All of this is confirmed from the Hadeeth of Umm Ateeyah (RA), which is reported by al-Bukhari, Muslim, at-Tirmidhee, an-Nasaa’ee, Ibn Maajah, and Ahmad.
All of this shows that the Eid prayer is definitely compulsory upon all individuals and not just upon some people. The order to egress to the musallaa necessitates the order to pray the Eid prayer, for one who has no excuse; as is implied from the tone of this message. This is because "egression" is a means to the prayer. Therefore the fact that the means is obligatory necessitates that the objective (the prayer) is obligatory…"
Information From
The Rulings Concerning The Two ‘Eids - From the Purified Sunnah
By Shaykh Abul Haarith ‘Alee Hasan ‘Alee ‘Abdul Hameed