For the second year in a row, Muslims around the world are celebrating Eid al-Adha today in the shadow of the pandemic and amid growing concerns about the spread of the highly infectious delta variant of the coronavirus.
Eid al-Adha, usually celebrated with large gatherings and communal prayers, large social gatherings, which even this time were limited.
In the holy city of Mecca only 60,000 vaccinated Muslim believers have been able to go on pilgrimage, contrary to the usual figures of over 2.5 million.
After the believers started worshiping in the holy lands on the eve of Eid al-Adha, the cover of the Kaaba known as “Kisaah” was changed. The new cover was placed in the Kaaba by the teams of the General Directorate of Kaaba Affairs and the Mosque of the Prophet.
In Istanbul, thousands of worshipers prayed the Eid al-Adha prayer at Istanbul’s Aya Sofya Mosque. This is the second Eid al-Adha prayer since its opening as a mosque on July 24 last year.
Many believers have gathered in mosques in northern Macedonia and Kosovo to pray Eid al-Adha, marking the beginning of one of the biggest Muslim holidays.
In northern Macedonia, the central ceremony was held at the Mustafa Pasha Mosque in Skopje, with numerous protective measures. During the pre-prayer program, the madrasa choir in Albanian, Macedonian, Turkish and Bosnian.
Even in Kosovo, Muslim believers have prayed Eid al-Adha with physical presence in all mosques in the country.
Indonesia was among the first countries to celebrate Eid in numerous restrictions due to a severe wave of pandemic. Large meetings were banned and travel restrictions imposed.
Malaysia has also celebrated in numerous restrictions. Home visits and cemetery visits are also prohibited. Healthy believers are allowed to gather for prayer in the mosque, maintaining social distance and without physical contact.
Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin called on Muslims to stay home. “I appeal to all of you to be patient and respect the masses because your sacrifice is a great jihad in the eyes of Allah and in our effort to save lives,” he said in a televised speech on the eve of the holiday.
Even in Australia restrictions have hampered celebrations like in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia’s two largest cities.
In Iran, too, citizens have been forced to celebrate in restrictions as the country is once again under siege.
In Bangladesh, authorities have eased restrictions for 8 days for the sake of the holiday.
A bomb blast near the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, has killed at least 35 Iraqi people. The attack, which bears the authorship of ISIS, took place on Monday afternoon in a market in the Sadr City neighborhood, at a time when citizens were shopping for the Eid al-Adha holiday. Over 60 people were injured, police said.
Eid al-Adha is an important holiday for the entire Islamic world. This holiday symbolizes the great sacrifice and mercy for approaching God.
