GMR to host Eid prayers at four main congregational areas, 24 mosques
Eid al-Adha prayers for the year 1446 will be held across 24 mosques in Malé, Vilimalé, and Hulhumalé, as well as in the main congregational areas in the Greater Malé Region
Eid prayers in large congregation: This year's Eid prayers will also be held in four areas of the city
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has revealed that Eid al-Adha prayers for the year 1446 will be held across 24 mosques in Malé, Vilimalé, and Hulhumalé, in addition to the main congregational areas in the Greater Malé Region.
The day of Eid-Al-Adha for the year 1446 falls on Friday, June 6.
The ministry has once again designated specific mosques and grounds for Eid al-Adha prayers in the Malé region. Four large grounds have been arranged to accommodate sizable congregations this year including the Maafannu Stadium area in Malé, the Vilimalé Football Ground, and the Hulhumalé Stadium and Hulhumalé Phase II Cricket Stadium.
In addition to this, Eid prayers will be held across several mosques in Malé, Vilimalé, and Hulhumalé including:
- Masjid-ul Sultan Muhammad Thakurufaanu-al-A'zam
- Masjid Maliki Salman
- Masjid Sultan Muhammad bin Abdullah
- Masjid Furqan
- Masjid Noor
- Masjid Shaheed Ali
- Masjid Sultan Hassan Izzuddin
- Masjid Sultan Muhammad Fareed-ul-Awwal
- Masjid Shaheed Abdur Rahman (Fandiyaaru Mosque)
- Masjid Sultan Muhammad Shamsuddin
- Masjid Salahuddin
- Masjid Jalaluddin
- Masjid Ibrahim
- Masjid Iskandar
- Boduge
- Masjid Sultan Muhammad Imaduddin
- Masjid Sheikh Muhammad Jameel Didi
- Masjid Afifuddin
- Ziyaaraiy Mosque
- Masjid-ul Birri (Vilimalé)
- Masjid Sheikh Qasim bin Muhammad Al Thani (Hulhumalé)
- Hulhumalé Temporary Mosque (Neighborhood 3)
- Masjid Abu Bakr-us Siddiq (Hulhumalé Phase 2)
- Masjid Uthman bin Affan (Hulhumalé Phase 2)
- Masjid Ameel Jaleel (Hulhumalé Phase 2)
- Masjid Sabeel (Hulhulé)
- Masjid-ul Intisar (Hulhulé)
The ministry has revealed that Eid prayers will proceed in these mosques in addition to the grounds designated for mass congregations.
However, if weather conditions prevent the mass congregations from being held in the four designated areas, the ministry has revealed that Eid prayers can be performed in all mosques where Friday prayers are usually held in Malé, Vilimalé, and Hulhumalé.
The Eid prayer is scheduled to begin at 7am. 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.
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.
