While there is a broad consensus that special Eid prayers are ruled out in Eidgah [[where special Eid prayers are held] mosques etc, sectarian divide is coming in the way of how to offer Eid prayers at home, instead of congregating at mosque.
Many Islamic seminaries such as Darul Uloom, Nadwa, Deoband etc have issued fatwas asking the faithful to offer Eid prayers in the same manner that the Friday prayers. However, others say without a special sermon, Eid prayers remain incomplete. The influential Barelvi sect of Muslims in India, for instance, wants its followers to offer ‘Salat –e Chasht,’ a non-mandatory, optional thanksgiving prayer that some reverential faithful offer every-day at post-dawn.
There are other finer details causing more variances, some even on gender lines. Most fatwas favouring Eid Prayer at home insist upon assembly of at least four male members while Ahle-Hadith, a radical but smaller sect, thinks even a nuclear family of two i.e. husband and wife can offer Eid Prayer. In keeping with gender roles, a male is expected to stand at least a step ahead of a woman while offering prayer. The insistence of four male members in urban centres like Delhi, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Bhopal etc in view of social distancing norms, poses a challenge [unless neighbour of relatives are summoned]. Some liberal sects feel Muslim clergy should grant equal status to women family members to fulfil Eid prayer criteria.
Depending on the sighting of the moon, Eid –ul fitr celebrations In India will begin either on Sunday, May 24 or Monday, May 25. However, some parts of the country and smaller sects such as Dawoodi Bohras may celebrate Eid on Saturday, May 23.
Divided among sectarian lines, 172 million [as per 2011 census] Muslims in India are struggling to come in terms of coronavirus curbs as Eid celebrations mandate a collective post-dawn prayers, followed by a short sermon. Since there is a blanket ban on public religious activities of all faiths, Muslims are rather clueless about offering customary Eid prayers, hugging one another, sharing sweets and other forms of festivities.
Traditionally, Eid-ul-Fitr day for Muslims begins early with bath, new clothes and post special prayers, Muslims are encouraged to hug one another, twice and then eat something sweet, sewaiyan, sheer, kheer, dates etc. Young children are given ‘Eidy’ (token Eid money) usually in crisp, new currency notes by their elders, relatives and well-wishers.
For past week or so, there have been dozens of ‘fatwas’ (religious directives) asking the faithful on how to perform Eid Prayers shared briskly among countless What’s App groups.
Muslims scholars like Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangimahli, imam of Eidgah, Lucknow admits Eid-ul-Fitr, and 2020 offers a rather unprecedented, piquant situation. His close associate Maulana Naeem Ur Rahman Siddiqui recalls some 40 instances from over 1400 year old Islamic history when Hajj could not be performed due to wars, famine, epidemics etc but there is no recorded occurrence of world-wide suspension of Eid prayers.
Eid prayers have been cancelled in several Islamic countries such as Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Egypt. As per a report in Saudi Gazette, Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al Sheikh has decreed that it is permissible to offer Eid prayer at home in exceptional situations such as COVID 19.
Indian Islamic scholars say enforcing a religious directive in Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman etc is far easier than India where religious heads and seminaries do not have any administrative control to make everyone fall in line.
In popular culture, Eid and Eidgah finds frequent mentions. A couple of years ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had narrated Munshi Premchand's iconic short-story 'Eidgah.' Modi had admitted that the story’s central character ‘Hamid’ had inspired him with his heart-warming act of empathy. On May 28, 2018, Modi’s official twitter handle @PMOIndia had a post, “I will never forget one of Premchand's stories, Idgah.
[Author-Journalist Rasheed Kidwai is a visiting Fellow of the Observer Research Foundation. He tracks government and politics and considered a specialist on Congress party affairs.]
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