Indian Muslim leaders urge community to offer Eid prayers at home

Gulf Today Report

Muslim leaders on Wednesday appealed to their community in Telangana to offer Eid Al Fitr prayers at home in view of the statewide lockdown.

Various religious leaders of the community held a webinar on the issue and made a joint appeal to the people to offer prayers at home.

Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi said the leaders took a collective decision that in view of the lockdown and the government order for closure of all places of worship, 'Namaz-e-Eid' should be offered at home.

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"Three to four persons will offer prayers in mosques because we can't leave mosques deserted but all others should pray at home," Owaisi said. He called for strictly observing all Covid guidelines like wearing masks and maintaining social distance.

Eid Al Fitr is being celebrated with solemnity amid the raging pandemic in Kashmir on Thursday.

Kashmiri Muslims maintain social distancing as they offer Eid prayers inside a mosque in Srinagar on Thursday. AP

This will be the fourth festival in the Valley which has come amid severe restrictions.

There are two major Eids in the Islamic calendar per year -- Eid ul-Fitr, which is celebrated after a month of fasting from dawn to dusk, and Eid Al Adha, which comes two months and 10 days later.

The first Eid to be celebrated amid strict restrictions came on August 12, 2019, just a week after the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370.

Home Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali was informed about the decision and he told the Muslim leaders that he would speak to the Director General of Police.

Owaisi said that the lockdown will hit poor people hard. "I have always been against lockdowns but this is a high court order and the government has also issued a GO," he said.

The MP appealed to the people to make a special supplication during their Eid prayers at home for an end to the pandemic for the sake of entire humanity.

A ten-day lockdown came into effect across Telangana on Wednesday. The government is giving a four-hour relaxation every day from 6am to 10am to enable people to buy essential items.