THE MUSALLA (PLACE OF PRAYER)
Abi Sa'eed al-Khudri (RA) said:
"The Messenger of Allah (SAW) on the days of 'Eid-ul-Fitr and 'Adhaa, used to go out to the musallaa and the first thing that he would begin with was the prayer..." (Reported by Al-Bukhari, Muslim and An-Nasaa'ee)
The renowned scholar Ibn Haajee al-Maalikee said:
"The past Sunnah with regards to the 'Eid prayer is that it should be performed at the musallaa. This is because the Prophet (SAW) said: 'Prayer in my masjid is a thousand times better than prayer anywhere else except the Masjid-al-Haram.' (Publisher's Note : The mosque in Makkah in which the Kabah is contained. Hadith Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim) Despite this great excellence he (SAW) went out (to the musallaa) and left his masjid." (al-Madkhal)
Imam Ibn Qudaamah al-Maqdasee (al-Mughnee) said:
"The Sunnah is to pray the 'Eid prayer at a musallaa. 'Alee (RA) ordered this and al-Awzaa'ee and the people of ra'y preferred this opinion. It is also the opinion of Ibn Mundhir." (For a detailed explanation of the evidences for this issue with a reply to the doubts of the ones who oppose it, refer to what the renowned scholar Shaikh Ahmad ask-Shaakir (ra), wrote in Sharh Sunan at-Tirmidhee and by our teacher al-Albaanee (ra) in a treatise called Salaat-ul-'Eidain fil-Musallaa hiyah Sunnah, printed in Dimishq. Refer to it for it is of the utmost beauty.)
Thus he who is unable to proceed out to the musallaa, due to an illness or old age can pray in the mosque and there is no problem - by the will of Allah - in him doing so. (Refer to al-Mughnee)
Here is it appropriate to not that the aim of the prayer in the musallaa is to gather the great majority of the Muslims in one place. Where as we see in this day and age in many countries the existence of several musalla's, even if there is no need. This matter, the scholar's have informed us of, is disliked. (Refer to Nihayatul-Muhtaaj by ar-Ramlee).
Indeed some musalla's have even become a platform for partisanship so as to divide the Muslims.
And indeed all power and movement belong to Allah.
GOING TO AND RETURNING FROM THE MUSALLAA (PLACE OF PRAYER)
Jaabir bin 'Abdullaah (RA) said:
When it was the day of 'Eid the Prophet (SAW) used to alter his route (of returning)." (Reported by Al-Bukhari)
Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawzeeya said:
"The Prophet (SAW) used to change his route on the days of 'Eid, such that he went by one route and returned by another. It is said (he did this) to give salaam upon the people of both routes. Or so that both groups get some of his blessings. Or so that anybody who has a need can take care of it. Or to make manifest the rituals of Islam ... - and this is the most correct opinion - for all of these reasons and for other reasons of wisdom his (SAW) actions contain." (Zaad-ul-Ma'aad)
NOTE:
First: Imam al-Baghawee said in Sharh-us-Sunnah:
"It is preferred that the people leave for the musalla after praying the dawn prayer (Fajr) so that they can take their places and make takbeer. While the Imaam proceeds when it is time for the prayer.
Second: Tirmidhi, Ibn Maajah (RA) transmit from 'Ali ibn Abee Talib (RA) that he said: "From the sunnah is to proceed to the 'Eid by foot."
(Declared hasan by our Shaikh Al-Albaanee (ra) in Saheeh Sunan at-Tirmidhi