Muslims around the world celebrate Eid-ul-Adha

Muslims offer Eid-ul-Adha prayers observing social distancing and wearing masks in Kuala Lumpur to prevent the spread of the coronavirus-- Photo: Reuters

Masked and socially estranged to fight the coronavirus, Muslims around the world prayed on Friday to commemorate the Eid al-Adha festival, with mosques at reduced capacity and some praying outdoors.

Saudi Arabian King Salman bin Abdulaziz, 84, whose country is home to two of Islam's holiest sites, tweeted Christmas greetings a day after leaving the hospital in Riyadh. Haj pilgrimage takes place in the country and attendance is drastically reduced.

In Istanbul, Muslims celebrated Eid al-Adha prayers at Hagia Sophia for the first time since the historic building was converted to a mosque this month after a court ruling revoked its museum status that drew criticism from Western countries.

In Lebanon, devastated by the economic crisis, many found it difficult to pay for traditional Eid customs. In Tripoli, the country's second city, there were no decorations, no flickering lights, and no electricity to power them.

Instead, a large billboard said, "We are bankrupt."

Throughout the world, the festival had to fit in with the realities of the coronavirus.

In Indonesia, the religious ministry asked mosques to shorten the ceremonies, while many canceled the ritual of slaughtering cattle and distributing the meat to the community.

Instead, sheep, goats, and cows were being slaughtered in slaughterhouses to commemorate the 'Feast of Sacrifice', held by Muslims to commemorate the prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail to God's orders. "This year's Eid al-Adha is very different from last year because we need to follow health protocols while we pray, like maintaining social distance," said Devita Ilhami, 30, who was at the Sunda Kelapa mosque in Jakarta.

She said they had to bring their own prayer mats, with markers on the floor to show where they should be placed.

Elsewhere in Asia, Muslims, including Thailand and Malaysia, prayed inside or outside mosques with masks.

In Malaysia, while some mosques canceled the ritual of slaughtering cattle, 13 cows were killed in the traditional way, but according to the rules that limit the number of animals and people in the Tengku Abdul Aziz Shah Jamek mosque in Kuala Lumpur.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani attended prayers in Kabul. Taliban militants say they will observe a three-day ceasefire during the holidays, offering a respite from weeks of violence.

 In India, where Eid will be held primarily starting on Saturday, several states have eased coronavirus restrictions to allow worshipers to gather in mosques in limited numbers.

"Only small groups of the faithful will be able to enter the mosques," said Shafique Qasim, a high-ranking cleric at the Nakhoda mosque in the eastern city of Kolkata.