The Book of the Prayer for the Two 'Eids
19/6. Chapter:
Praying before the imam on the day of 'Eid
Sunan an-Nasai
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنِ الأَشْعَثِ، عَنِ الأَسْوَدِ بْنِ هِلاَلٍ، عَنْ ثَعْلَبَةَ بْنِ زَهْدَمٍ، أَنَّ عَلِيًّا، اسْتَخْلَفَ أَبَا مَسْعُودٍ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَخَرَجَ يَوْمَ عِيدٍ فَقَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنَ السُّنَّةِ أَنْ يُصَلَّى قَبْلَ الإِمَامِ .
It was narrated from Tha'labah bin Zahdam that: 'Ali appointed Abu Mas'ud over the people, then went out on the day of 'Eid and said: 'O people, it is not part of the sunnah to pray before the imam.'"
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1561In-book reference : Book 19, Hadith 6English translation : Vol. 2, Book 19, Hadith 1562