Lucknow: The Lucknow-based Darul Uloom Farangi Mahali has appealed Muslims to offer the Eid prayer and Juma tul Wida on the last Friday of Ramadan in their homes, if the lockdown is extended beyond May 17 and gatherings remain prohibited.
Eid ul Fitr 2020 is likely to be celebrated on May 23 or 24. The final decision will be taken based on sighting of new moon..
The appeal signed by four clerics -- Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali, Maulana Nasrullah, Maulana Naeem-Ur-Rahman Siddiqui and Maulana Mohammad Mushtaq-states, among other things also said that buying new clothes for Eid is not mandatory.
The fatwa that was issued in response to a query, further said, "For Alvida (Juma tul Wida) and Eid namaaz, the Imam and muezzin (person who gives out the azaan) of the mosque and only three other people, should offer the prayers in the mosque. This count should not exceed beyond five people following social distancing norms."
Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali, a well-known Sunni cleric, said that instead of buying new clothes, people should wear clean and good clothes that they already have.
He asked people not go out of their homes to congratulate others on Eid, but to call up friends and family to share the happiness of the festival.
He asked people not to embrace each other -- as is the custom -- and maintain social distancing.
He said that people should do maximum amount of charity and help those in need on Eid.
Shia cleric and senior vice president of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Maulana Kalbe Sadiq, has also made similar appeals.
"Eid should be celebrated with utmost simplicity this year and people should stay safe at their homes and not go outside. The budget earmarked for Eid should be cut down and the money be donated to the poor who are suffering because of this pandemic", he said.
Appeals to offer Eid prayer at home and avoid congregations have also been issued by scholars in Saudi Arabia and those in other Muslim countries, including Malaysia.
"If the status quo persists (i.e. restrictions continue), making it impossible to hold Eid prayer at mosques, people will have to pray at home and no sermon will follow the Eid prayer", Saudi Grand Mufti Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah Al Al-Sheikh said.
He said that the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta had issued a fatwa that it was desirable for whoever missed congregational Eid prayers to perform it without a sermon following it.
For all the latest News, Opinions and Views, download ummid.com App.
Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic.
'Dumped Like Animals': Patients on Covid Quarantine Centres in Malegaon
Also Read
36 nurses deployed to Malegaon, wander whole night searching accommodation
Maharashtra Corona Update Today: 868 deaths; 23,401 cases total
Karnataka Coronavirus total 862, 31 deaths
64-yr-old Basheer dies during police raid over animal slaughter in UP
Covid-19 deaths in India cross 2000 mark, 62,939 cases
Delhi Corona cases eye 7000 mark, death toll 73
Makkah Haram, Prophet's Mosque get self-sterilization gates
Understanding the Hindu fear of Muslims and Christians
Canadian, Spanish students cycle 100 kms in Singapore - to feed Mumbai migrants
Uncertain Future, Financial Crisis: Here is what haunts Indians the most during lockdown
How these 25 companies bounced back after 2008 financial crisis
Arrest of Student Activists in the Shadow of Covid-19
Swati Maliwal demands arrest of people vilifying Safoora Zargar
