Eid Prayer Areas in Riyadh

Eid Prayers Areas (Musalla) in Riyadh are designated spaces for performing Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha prayers as well as prayers for emergencies (Salawat al-Nawazil) in Riyadh City, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These areas were empty lands enclosed by low fences.

The establishment of Eid prayer areas dates back to the early Islamic era. The prayer area for the residents of "Hajr al-Yamamah," the historical name of Riyadh, was located in the center, accessible via all roads, and surrounded by farmland east of al-Witr Valley in al-Batha and west of Riyadh.

The last prayer performed in Riyadh’s original Eid prayer area was in 1955, during the reign of King Saud Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. This area was located between the al-Hissi farms, separated from the road leading out of al-Thumairi Gate. To the south of it were al-Hammad farms, where scientific institutes were later built, separated from the prayer area by the road leading out of al-Qiri Gate. This site was bordered to the west by the road adjacent to the town’s wall, between al-Thumairi Gate and al-Qiri Gate. John Philby described the prayer area as being situated between A’qala cemetery to the south and Shalaga cemetery to the north.

Riyadh prayer area was rectangular in shape, with an area of over 14,000 m. It was surrounded by walls over 1.5 m high and had six entrances located in the north and south. The western side of the prayer area was used for daily congregational prayers. It could accommodate all of Riyadh’s male residents at the time, with a separate uncovered space for women’s prayers located to the south.

In 1955, Prince Fahd Bin Faisal Al Farhan, the then-mayor of Riyadh City, decided to build the municipality headquarters on the site of the prayer area. The prayer area was relocated to a new site south of al-Qiri Neighborhood, where it is still the Eid prayer area in Riyadh. Prominent sheikhs and judges of Riyadh, such as Sheikh Abdulmohsen Bin Ibrahim Al al-Sheikh, led the prayers at this location.

Manfouha Neighborhood in Riyadh contains two prayer areas. One of them is old and abandoned, located in al-Hazm area, roughly halfway between al-Masani Neighborhood and the two Manfouha areas: west of the southern Manfouha, known as al-Afsa Palace, south of the northern Manfouha, and north of al-Masani in a central location, called al-Sabeikhat. This location is a single, large, vacant plot of land devoid of farms. The prayer area is positioned along the road connecting Manfouha to the eastern side of al-Masani. Over time, part of this area became integrated into the road linking Manfouha to al-Masani.

Scholars and judges who served in Manfouha prayer area led prayers and sermons at this site until the twentieth century. The prayer area then moved to its second location, along with al-Masani prayer area. The last to lead prayers there was Sheikh Hassan Bin Hussein Al al-Sheikh, who passed away in 1925.

Sheikh Hassan Al al-Sheikh also led prayers in the second Eid prayer area, located north of Manfouha and south of al-Qa’a Neighborhood wall. This prayer area was established after residents moved from the south to other locations due to the decay of southern dwellings. The site overlooks the southern ring road and remains to this day. Sheikh Omar Bin Hassan Al al-Sheikh, who died in 1975, mentioned the prayer area in a manuscript. It was noted that Sheikh Abdulrahman Bin Salem succeeded his father in leading prayers, as well as Sheikh Mohammed Bin Humaid and Sheikh Abdulmohsen Bin Sheikh Omar Bin Mahmoud.

Sheikh Hassan Bin Hussein Al al-Sheikh relocated the old al-Hazm Eid prayer area to two locations near Manfouha and al-Masani at the beginning of the twentieth century. Al-Masani Eid prayer area is expansive, located eastward, with the al-Juraif area positioned to its northwest. Today, it is considered one of the main Eid prayer areas, along with those in Manfouha and Riyadh Eid prayer areas. Prayers here are led by the sheikhs of al-Masani Mosque, including Sheikh Abdullah Bin al-Sheikh Hassan Bin Talha.

Currently, Riyadh City has ten open-air Eid prayer areas managed by the branch of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance. This ministry ensures that these spaces are prepared and equipped for performing Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha prayers. Eid prayer areas include: The Grand Eid Prayer Area in the center of Riyadh City, along with other prayer areas in neighborhoods such as al-Suwaidi, al-Shifa, Manfouha, Old Manfouha, al-Faryan, al-Masani, al-Rabwa, al-Hayer district, and al-Fawaz, as well as all mosques in Riyadh City.

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance considers weather forecasts that may affect the open-air Eid prayer areas. Eid prayers are also held in mosques, except for those adjacent to Eid prayer areas and mosques that are not frequented for Eid prayers in some towns and villages, as the locals suffice with their designated Eid prayer area. All Eid prayer areas and mosques are equipped with maintenance, cleaning, and operational services to ensure worshippers can perform their prayers conveniently and peacefully.