The timings for Eid Al Adha prayers in the UAE have been announced. Authorities said no public prayers will be held in mosques on Friday because of the coronavirus pandemic but special Eid supplications will be heard after dawn asking worshippers to pray at home. Before the prayers are held, imams and worshippers take turns reciting the call to pray, known as Takbir. The supplications often start after dawn prayers and continue until an hour before sunrise. Muslims across the world will recite the special prayers on the first day of Eid, which is a day after Arafah. Arafah marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage. Usually, worshippers gather in packed mosques on the first day of Eid to offer early morning prayers, but this year they have been urged to pray at home to avoid social gatherings. Mosques and Eid public praying areas will remain closed. Here are the prayer timings for each emirate: Authorities have also urged people to avoid social gatherings during the holidays. Hefty fines would be imposed on those found not observing physical distancing for the duration of Eid Al Adha. “During Eid, we kindly ask you to comply with precautionary measures and congratulate others with words [rather than embracing family],” said Dr Omar Al Hammadi, spokesman for the Ministry of Health and Prevention. He said visits must be limited to first and second-degree relatives and that people should wear face masks and keep a minimum distance of two metres from one another. Dr Al Hammadi said families must be extra careful around people in high-risk categories, such as pregnant women, the elderly and people with certain pre-existing conditions. Families should also refrain from giving children gifts. “Despite positive indicators, we must still implement these safety measures to curb the spread of the virus. We are still monitoring and recording infections within families because of gatherings and failure to adhere to rules. These gatherings do not help because families do not wear masks,” he said.
