The Muslim community in the city is celebrating Hari Raya Aidiladha (Eid-al Adha) in moderation this year due to the new norm to contain the COVID-19 outbreak. The mosques and suraus in the city which were usually lively and crowded during the sacrificial worship are now quiet due to the adherence to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
The Eid-al Adha congregational prayers started as early as 8am in mosques and suraus abiding to the SOPs under the supervision of the appointed committee. After the sermon, no one was seen shaking hands, instead only wishing one another a Happy Eid before leaving the house of prayer.
At the Sultan Idris Shah II Mosque or the State Mosque, the Aidiladha prayers led by Iman Besar, Abd Farid Salleh commenced at 8.30am.
Meanwhile, as per instructed, only 20 officers are allowed to attend each session of the sacrificial rituals and aqiqah (Islamic tradition of the sacrifice of an animal) in Perak during the Movement Control Order 3.0 (MCO 3.0). The officers include members of the mosque or surau committee and the sacrifice committee.
The slaughtering time is split into two sessions, where the first session will begin from 9am till 12pm while the second session starts from 2pm till 6pm. As for the second to fourth day, the slaughtering time for the first session starts at 8am till 12pm and the second session is the same as the first day.
Despite SOP restrictions to this year’s celebration, members of the Muslim community are still grateful that they are allowed to celebrate the sacrificial worship. A resident of Tambun, Mohd Zulhelmi Zulkifli, 38, said that the rituals were performed in compliance with the SOPs.
He said he feels grateful for the opportunity to perform the Eid prayers compared to the Aidilfitri prayers at home last year. “Like everyone else, the occasions are only allowed to be celebrated on a small scale with family members without open house ceremonies and others.
“People are aware of the consequences of this situation and hope the coronavirus can be eradicated,” he said.
Another resident from Rapat Setia also shared his grief. Mohd. Rozaimi Mutalib, 47, who celebrated Aidiladha with his wife and two children, could not return home to visit his family due to the movement restriction.
“Although my mother lives in Taiping, we are not allowed to visit due to the cross-district ban in the country. However, we are nevertheless pleased as we are able to celebrate this occasion in moderation and we communicate via phone calls or video calls,” he explained.
Rosli Mansor
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