Iranians Celebrate Eid al-Fitr
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Muslim people in Iran are celebrating Eid al-Fitr on Sunday at the end of the holy month of Ramadan, while the outbreak of the novel coronavirus has forced many worshippers to say the Eid prayers at home or observe strict health protocols in mosques.
After fasting for a month, Muslims took part in Eid prayers across the country early in the morning of the festive occasion of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar.
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei always led the prayers in the capital in previous years, but the coronavirus epidemic has cancelled this year’s Eid prayers at the Grand Musalla (prayer hall) of Tehran.
Many people stayed home this year and observed self-isolation protocols, and those attending the congregational payers at mosques had to comply with health instructions to contain the spread of the disease.
Also called Feast of Breaking the Fast, Eid al-Fitr is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims around the world.
The observance traditionally begins with the sighting of the new moon of the 10th month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
The solemn festival is a specific day on which Muslims are not permitted to fast.
The holiday celebrates the conclusion of 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of Ramadan. The day of Eid falls on the first day of the month of Shawwal.