Ash Shaykh Al Uthaymeen said while commenting on Hajaawis speech in Sharhul Mumtia
“And the opposite of it [not eating before the prayer] during [Eid] Al Adhaa if he slaughtered [is that] it is understood from it that if he does not have a slaughter, then it is not legislated for him to abstain from eating before the prayer. Rather he has a choice. Thus, if he ate before going out to the prayer, then we do not say to him [that] you have opposed the Sunnah”. End quote. [Sharhul Mumtia 5/124-125]
Similar was relayed from Imam Ahmad as mentioned by Ibn Qudaama in al Mughni
قال أحمد: والأضحى لا يأكل فيه حتى يرجع إذا كان له ذبح، لأن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أكل من ذبيحته، وإذا لم يكن له ذبح لم يبال أن يأكل. اهـ.
“Ahmad said: Al Adhaa: one should not eat in it until he returns if he has a slaughter because the prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم ate from his slaughter. But if he does not have one, then there is no problem if he eats.” End quote.
Translated by
Majid Jawed Al-Afghanee
Abu Layl