Mosques of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation in Moscow and other regions will be closed to parishioners during Eid al-Fitr (Uraza-Bayram), believers need to be patient and celebrate the holiday at home, said mufti Ravil Gainutdin, Chairman of the Russian Muftis Council and the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation, in an address to co-religionists, which is posted on the website of the RMC.
"On May 24, on Eid al-Fitr, our mosques in Moscow and the Moscow region, as well as in a number of other regions and cities, will not be able to accept believers, so as not to create conditions for infecting even more people," Gainutdin said.
According to him, in the Moscow Cathedral Mosque, imams "in a limited number in compliance with social distance" will perform a festive prayer, a live broadcast from the site will be conducted by the "Russia 1" TV channel.
"I sincerely hope that through this broadcast of the festive prayer and sermon delivered in the Moscow Cathedral Mosque, the spirit of the holiday will enter every Muslim home, " Gainutdin said.
He stressed that the fight against the virus continues and called on Muslims to be patient.
"Patience is the quality of a sincere believer. Prayer and invocation to the Lord is the spiritual thread that connects the soul of a believer with light and hope in any life's challenges… I urge you, my dear co-religionists, to take all precautions and do everything in your power to stop the spread of the coronavirus," he said.
The head of the Religious Board also congratulated Muslims on the upcoming holiday of Eid al-Fitr (Uraza-Bayram).
"We will meet the bright holiday with joy and hope for the mercy of Allah. We will celebrate it in the family circle, in our homes. There is no doubt that our fasting, all prayers and pious deeds will be accepted and rewarded by Allah... I wish you peace, mercy, prosperity and the blessing of Allah for good deeds in your earthly life," the mufti concluded.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 18 asked Muslims to listen to the calls of the muftis and celebrate Eid al-Fitr at home, to abandon collective prayers and the tradition of gathering on this day in large companies.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: RMC official website