Imams are asked to keep the ritual short on Eid

DOHA: The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has asked all imams who will be leading Eid prayers at mosques and prayer grounds across the country to keep the rituals short in view of the hot weather.

The imams have been asked to perform all the rituals, including the sermon that follows the prayers, within 15 minutes. The Mosques Committee at the ministry has already sent messages to all imams in this regard.

Apart from the imams who lead the Friday prayers in mosques, a number of prominent Islamic scholars have been assigned to lead the special morning prayers on the first day of Eid Al Fitr.

After many years Ramadan and Eid have fallen during the summer months, forcing the ministry to limit the duration of the prayers, arguably for the first time in the country. The high temperatures and humidity prevailing since June are expected to continue until mid-September.

A senior official of the Mosques Committee told Al Sharq that the decision was taken in the interest of the worshippers, who will be gathering in large numbers for the Eid prayers.

The Eid prayers would be held at around 5.30am, about one and half hours after the Fajr (dawn) prayers. The weather is expected to be hot by that time, particularly in the prayer grounds.

Normally, the entire proceedings take 20 to 30 minutes depending on how long the sermon is. However, the imams leading the prayers have been asked to keep their speech short and finish the prayers in 15 minutes.

The ministry has made arrangements at 214 mosques and prayer grounds across the country for offering of the Eid prayers. Of these, 24 venues will have special facilities for women.

Eid Al Fitr will fall on the coming Thursday or Friday, marking the culmination of the holy month of Ramadan. If the crescent moon is sighted on Wednesday, Eid will fall on Thursday, otherwise on Friday, after a full 30 days of the fasting month.

The Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, H E Dr Gheith bin Mubarak Al Kuwari, has urged all Muslims to look for the crescent moon on Wednesday. Anyone who sights the moon has been advised to report to the Moon Sighting Committee at the ministry and give testimony before the panel at its office in the Al Sadd area