The Ministry of Islamic Affairs decided to allow citizens to offer this year’s Eid-Al-Fitr prayer at home rather than in congregation under exceptional circumstances, due to the wide spreading Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

Highlighting that performing the eid prayer in congregation is a holy practice among the Muslim communities, the ministry stressed that however, this year, citizens have been banned from gatherings, going out of their homes and performing congregational prayers at mosques as well.

Under exceptional circumstances, the Eid prayer shall be performed without a sermon, in two Rakats with increased number of Takbeer. The Eid sermon is a bonus for the prayer, however, it is not compulsory.

As such, the Muslim community has been urged by the ministry to utilize this exceptional permission by performing the Eid prayer at home the same way congregational prayers are held in mosques which is the preferred way, however, worshippers may offer prayer individually as well.

The prayer is to begin at 07:30am.

The ministry has urged citizens to frequently pray at home, especially Sunnah prayers while advising citizens to increase prayers of supplication as well.

Eid prayers are performed in congregation twice a year during Eid-Al-Adha and the Eid-Al-Fitr, the latter marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan which is celebrated by Muslim communities globally and this year, the day is expected to fall on May 24.

Due to the global pandemic, muslims have been going through Ramadan under restrictive measures and most Islamic countries, including the Maldives have shut down their mosques.

Maldives suspended congregational prayers at mosques in all inhabited islands on March 18 and it is set to expire on May 28.

However, Imams are allowed to do prayer calls and call on the people to “pray at home” over the megaphone. The people have been instructed to follow orders of the relevant authorities, as it is for the sake of public health.

These measures are followed by the lockdown declared across the Greater Malé Region on April 15. Since then, the lockdown has been extended several times and it is set to expire on May 28