Islamic MInistry has announced that the Eid congregational prayers will not be held in open areas in the Greater Male' Area this Eid- al-Adha.
Eid prayers are usually held in large, open spaces which can cater to a large volume of people. However, citing COVID-19 as the reason, Eid congregational prayers were not held in the Greater Male' Region for both Eid al Fitr and Eid al Adha last year. Mass prayers were not held this Eid al Fitr either.
An official from the Islamic Ministry said mass prayers will not be held outdoors this Eid Al-Adha in order to follow the Health Protection Agency (HPA)'s guidelines on social distancing. However, the prayer congregation will still be held in Male' City mosques with social distancing measures in place. Permission will be granted to hold outdoor congregations in open spaces in the atolls if the islands are not under HPA's monitoring, he added.
This year's Eid al-Adha falls on July 20. The Islamic Ministry said worshipers are encouraged to wear masks and take their own prayer mats to mosques as a precautionary measure against COVID-19.
