Offer namaz from home this Eid, Muslims told

A fatwa was issued by the leading Islamic seminary Jamia Nizamia urging Muslims not to offer the Eid-ul- Fitr prayers owing to social distancing issues and apprehensions of people contracting coronavirus

Hyderabad: There will be no Eid-ul-Fitr prayers in the city on Monday in view of the restrictions on mass congregations due to coronavirus pandemic. Instead, the Muslim religious scholars have asked the community to offer ‘four rakat nafil namaz’ or ‘shukhrana namaz’ at their homes.

A fatwa was issued by the leading Islamic seminary Jamia Nizamia urging Muslims not to offer the Eid-ul- Fitr prayers owing to social distancing issues and apprehensions of people contracting coronavirus.

“When condition laid for the Eid prayers are not fulfilled the prayers cannot be held or offered. So there will not be any prayers as a sermon and big gathering is compulsory for Eid prayers. Instead, the Muslims can offer ‘four rakat nafil namaz’ or ‘shukhrana’ (thanksgiving prayers) at their homes,” said Maulana Mufti Azeemuddin of Jamia Nizamia.

“Eid prayers cannot be offered like regular prayers by four or five persons as is being allowed due to lockdown. So there will be no Eid namaz anywhere,” informed Maulana Hafeez Rizwan Qureshi, Khateeb Mecca Masjid who leads the Eid-ul-Fitr prayers at Mir Alam Eidgah.

It means the scene of thousands of persons dressed in traditional festive attire converging at Mir Alam Eidgah, Qutb Shahi Tombs Eidgah, Eidgah Bilali Masab Tank, Mecca Masjid and the old Madannapet Eidgah will be missed.

“The usual excitement is waking up early and rushing to the Eidgah will not be there. We will be deprived of the practice of visiting the homes of relatives in convoy of cars or two-wheelers to extend Eid-ul-Fitr wishes,” said Ehteshamuddin, a resident of Jahanuma.

During the Ramzan, thousands of NRI’s come home to spend time with families and celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr. “With the airways closed many had dropped their plans. On Sunday Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated in Gulf countries, so those staying there extended their wishes over phones and social networking sites/applications. The scene will repeat here too on Monday,” said Yasmeen Sultana of Bahadurpura.

Footwear, apparels and bangle stores received lukewarm shopping while the grocery stores were packed with people making last minute purchase of seviyah (vermicelli), dry fruits and milk to prepare the sheer kurma. Similarly rush was seen at the chicken and mutton stores.

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