Eid congregations to be held in four regions across GMR
Performing the Eid prayer in congregation is a holy practice among the Muslim communities
Eid-Al-Fitr mass congregation in the Greater Malé Region
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has revealed that Eid-Al-Fitr mass congregations will be held across four regions in the Greater Malé Region this year as well.
In a statement released on Sunday, the Islamic Ministry publicized the venues and mosques where the mass congregational Eid prayer will be held across the Greater Malé Region comprising of Malé, Hulhumalé and Villimalé just like previous years.
Among the venues designated for congregational Eid prayers are the Maafannu Stadium in Malé City and the Villimalé football ground.
In addition to this, it has been decided to hold mass congregational Eid prayers at the synthetic track area in Hulhumalé Phase I and at the Cricket Stadium in Hulhumalé Phase II. Similar to 2024, mass congregational Eid prayers will commence at 7am this year as well.
Although Eid congregations had commenced at 7:30am across different parts of the Maldives for years, it has now been amended due to a number of reasons.
The change was made as 7:30am is a time the heat from the rising sun intensifies, and as Eid congregations are being held across vacant areas and fields without shade in the Maldives and as several members of the public including the elderly, those with special needs, the less-abled as well as children take part in the congregations would have to bear the brunt of the morning sun.
As such, the ministry has set 7am as the time Eid congregations will begin from 2024 onwards.
Venues designated for Eid al-Fitr prayers this year include:
- Masjid al-Furqan in Malé City
- Masjid al-Noor in Malé City
- Maafannu Stadium (mass congregation) - Malé City
- Masjid al-Sultan Hassan Izzuddin (Thaiba Mosque) - Malé City
- Masjid al-Sultan Muhammad Fareed al-Awwal (Dhuburi Mosque) - Malé City
- Masjid Shaheed Abdul Rahman (Fandiyaaru Mosque) - Malé City
- Masjid Iskandar - Malé City
- Boduge (temporary mosque) - Malé City
- Masjid al-Sultan Muhammad Thakurufaanu al-A'zam (Islamic Center) - Malé City
- Masjid al-Malik Salman - Malé City
- Masjid al-Shaheed Ali - Malé City
- Masjid al-Sultan Muhammad Shamsuddin (Bandaara Mosque) - Malé City
- Masjid Salahuddin - Malé City
- Masjid Jalaluddin - Malé City
- Masjid Ibrahim - Malé City
- Masjid al-Sultan Muhammad Imaduddin (Ran Mosque) - Malé City
- Masjid al-Sheikh Muhammad Jameel Didi (Faifuhey Mosque) - Malé City
- Maafannu New Mosque - Malé City
- Villimalé mass congregation (Villimalé Football Ground) - Villimalé
- Masjid al-Salaam - Villimalé
- Hulhumalé mass congregation (Cricket Stadium) (Hulhumalé Phase II) - Hulhumalé
- Masjid Hassan Adam (Hulhumalé Phase II) - Hulhumalé
- Masjid Abu Bakr Siddiq (Hulhumalé Phase II) - Hulhumalé
- Hulhumalé mass congregation (Synthetic Track) - Hulhumalé
- Masjid al-Sheikh Qasim bin Muhammad Al Thani (Hulhumalé Phase I) - Hulhumalé
- Masjid Rasheed (Hulhumalé Phase I) - Hulhumalé
- Masjid Azeeza Moosa (Hulhumalé Phase I) - Hulhumalé
According to the Islamic Ministry, Eid prayers in Malé City will be held at all mosques where Friday prayers are held, if the mass congregations require to be cancelled due to unwelcoming weather conditions.
The people are urged to perform their ablution at home and carry their own water bottles, prayer mats and a non-plastic bag to carry their slippers, when they attend the congregation or the mosque.
The government has been holding mass congregations at stadiums for many years now, with the first one held in 2012.
Eid prayers are performed in congregation twice a year during Eid-Al-Adha and Eid-Al-Fitr, the latter marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan which is celebrated by Muslim communities globally.
Performing the Eid prayer in congregation is a holy practice among the Muslim communities.
