Eid of 2020, Prayer Will Be at Home
The title of this year of 2020 is “at home,” everything is at home like working, studying, and even praying. Since the pandemic is not over yet, governments are concerned about the general health of their citizens. That’s why the Saudi government is urging people to pray at home.
Eid Al Fitr is expected to be on the 23rd or 24th of May, depending on the sighting of the moon. Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti and head of the Council of Senior Scholars and the Department of Scientific Research and Ifta Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al Sheik said that it is permitted in Islam to pray at home in exceptional cases like the curfew due to the health pandemic. He added that Zakat Al-Fitr is a must for each Muslim who can pay the zakat. It could be distributed through charitable societies – provided they are reliable – with the proviso that it should be disseminated before the day of Eid.
A couple of days ago, the 24-hour curfew was stated again for Eid days. The curfew will be across all cities and regions in Saudi Arabia, and it will start from the 23rd of May until the 27th of May. Eventually, this instruction came after the partial curfew during the month of Ramadan.
Also, as per a directive issued on the 7th of May, gatherings of more than four people were prohibited, and those who flout the rule will be subject to disciplinary action.