Today is the first day of Eid Al Adha where Muslims worldwide are celebrating the Eid which is also known as the Festival of Sacrifice amid coronavirus pandemic that has so far infected around 17 million people worldwide, and brought the total number of people who recovered from the disease in the State of Qatar to 107,135 cases, out of 110,460 of infection cases.
This is the second Eid under COVID-19 restriction and social distancing that preventing people from prayers in large gatherings. It is a day of pleasure and happiness where people exchange greetings and good wishes including the leaders of Islamic world. Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani exchanged cables of greetings with Their Majesties, Excellencies and Highnesses leaders of Arab and Islamic countries on the occasion of this blessed day of Eid Al Adha.
Similar greetings were also exchanged by the Deputy Amir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani and Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani and other officials.
For the State of Qatar as the infection rate is significantly declined throughout the past weeks, showing increase in recoveries, some of the health restrictions have been accordingly relaxed allowing people to perform Eid prayers in 401 mosques and praying areas that have been prepared by the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affair for this purpose.
The mosques and praying areas were distributed in different parts of the country and prepared by the Ministry through hygiene teams to fulfill all health requirements and government directions under gradual lifting of restrictions of COVID-19. For its part, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment also intensified its operation to clean, wash and disinfect prayer grounds to make it ready for the Eid along cleaning of public parks, beaches and streets.
Same like the previous Eid Al Fitr, people are required to adhere to the precautions measures as the risk of the disease spread still remains there, therefore Khutbah of Eid will be short and greetings also should be given without hugging or shaking hands. In normal time of Eid people are used to get together with family and friends and sharing meals and have happy times but health restrictions are still applicable everywhere of the world including the State of Qatar therefore people are advised to keep numbers to a minimum and meet outdoors according to the instruction of health authorities.
