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Saudi Arabia, UAE Mosques to Stay Closed for Eid Prayers

Worshippers perform Tarawih prayers at the Masjid al-Haram in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
Worshippers perform Tarawih prayers at the Masjid al-Haram in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia, UAE Mosques to Stay Closed for Eid Prayers

Worshippers perform Tarawih prayers at the Masjid al-Haram in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
Worshippers perform Tarawih prayers at the Masjid al-Haram in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

Mosques will remain closed for prayers on the Eid al-Fitr holiday, Saudi and United Arab Emirates officials said on Friday, calling on the population to adhere to safety guidelines to avoid the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The Eid, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, may fall on Saturday or Sunday in the Gulf region.

Saudi Islamic Affairs Minister Abdullatif al-Sheikh gave instructions not to have Eid prayers in mosques, Saudi state TV quoted him as saying.

"Muslims will hold the Eid prayer at home because of the pandemic," the Saudi Press Agency cited Sheikh Abdul Bari al-Thubaiti, the imam, or the prayer leader, of the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, as saying in the Friday sermon.

During Ramadan, prayers without worshippers were held by the imams in the two holy mosques of Makkah and Madinah, in the west of the kingdom.

In the UAE, the Dubai government's media office said on Twitter that mosques will remain closed, and listed a series of Eid customs that should not be observed, including family visits and giving gifts or money to children.

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MWL Launches Girls' Education in Muslim Communities Initiative

The initiative aims to raise awareness in Muslim communities about the importance of girls' education. SPA
The initiative aims to raise awareness in Muslim communities about the importance of girls' education. SPA
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MWL Launches Girls' Education in Muslim Communities Initiative

The initiative aims to raise awareness in Muslim communities about the importance of girls' education. SPA
The initiative aims to raise awareness in Muslim communities about the importance of girls' education. SPA

The Muslim World League (MWL), represented by its Secretary General and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa, launched on Saturday its international initiative, Girls' Education in Muslim Communities, in Islamabad.

The initiative is sponsored by Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.

The conference was attended by Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha. Several prominent figures and institutions were also present, including muftis from across the Islamic world, members of Islamic scholarly councils, the Islamic Fiqh Academy of the MWL, the International Islamic Fiqh Academy of the OIC, senior education officials, and leaders from the League of Islamic Universities.

The initiative aims to raise awareness in Muslim communities about the importance of girls' education through various themes, joint programs, and collaborative agreements. It includes the issuance of the Islamabad declaration for girls' education, which will be presented to international governmental and non-governmental organizations. The declaration calls for the establishment of an international day dedicated to advancing its primary goal.

The initiative also entails launching a platform for international partnerships, including the signing of several agreements with regional and international organizations focused on women's empowerment and girls' education.

Al-Issa lauded the initiative as a transformative step for advancing girls' education, emphasizing its practical and results-oriented approach. He highlighted that the initiative is underpinned by high-quality agreements designed to ensure tangible outcomes. He further stated that the Islamabad declaration for girls' education will serve to solidify and strengthen the initiative.

Sharif commended the MWL for its dedication to education, emphasizing that ensuring equal access to education for girls remains one of the most pressing challenges.

Taha affirmed the OIC's readiness to support the initiative and contribute to its success for the benefit of girls across the Islamic world.