Mosques in Karachay-Cherkessia will be closed during Eid al-Fitr, and residents of the region are advised to refrain from mass celebrations. This was stated by the mufti of the North Caucasus, head of the Religious Board of Muslims of Karachay-Cherkessia Ismail Berdiev in an interview for TASS.
"According to preliminary calculations, we will have the peak of the pandemic in Karachay-Cherkessia by the end of May, so we will not be able to open mosques, there will be no festive prayers in mosques. We told everyone that no one should visit neighbors, relatives, this should be avoided. When all this is over, then we will visit each other and congratulate, but for now, there should be no visits," Berdiev said.
In other regions of the North Caucasus Federal district, according to him, decisions on opening mosques for Eid al-Fitr should be made based on the epidemiological situation and the recommendations of Rospotrebnadzor.
"Opening mosques is not up to us, what the sanitary and epidemiological service will say, so we will do," the mufti said, adding that the decision to close mosques during the pandemic was difficult, but it does not contradict the laws of Islam.
Earlier, the religious figure said that he was hospitalized with a suspected coronavirus infection, and he was tested twice, the first of which gave a positive result, the second - negative.
The Mufti of the Stavropol Krai Muhammad Rakhimov also called for celebrating Eid al-Fitr at home.
"This infection is like a fire - if it ignites in one place, it will ignite in others. We spoke several times and called on our imams to pray at home during this difficult time. <...> Eid al-Fitr this year will be held at home, every Muslim will be an Imam in his family, " Rakhimov told TASS, adding that currently all mosques in Stavropol are closed.
During the coronavirus pandemic, the Foundation for support of Islamic culture, science and education provided great assistance to the Muslims of the North Caucasus, he said.
"The Foundation provided financial assistance to Muslims in the North Caucasus, including the Stavropol Krai. In this difficult time, this was a very good help, " the mufti explained. The funds were transferred to the imams so that they, in turn, could provide support to those in need if necessary.
This year's Eid al-Fitr holiday will be celebrated on May 24.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Mikhail Tereshchenko / TASS