Abu Dhabi: Sunday, the 24th of May will be the first day of Shawwal 1441 H, marking the beginning of Eid Al Fitr, the UAE Moon-sighting Committee has announced.
The announcement was made after committee held a virtual meeting under the chairmanship of the Minister of Justice along with a number of senior officials, after Maghrib prayer on Friday.
Sultan bin Saeed Al Badi Al Dhaheri, Minister of Justice, and Chairman of the Committee, said the committee, after exhausting the sharia methods of sighting the crescent and making the necessary contacts with neighbouring countries, could not detect the Shawal month crescent moon on Friday evening, and therefore declares that tomorrow, Saturday, the 23rd of May, is the last day of Ramadan 1441, and that Sunday, the 24th of May, is the first day of Eid Al Fitr.
Abu Dhabi: 05.52am
Al Ain: 05.46am
Dubai: 05.47am
Sharjah: 05.44am
Ras Al Khaimah: 05.43am
Fujairah: 05.43am
Umm Al Quwain: 05.44am
Ajman: 05.46am
(Prayer to be performed at home)
UAE Fatwa on Eid prayers
Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al Shamsi, spokesperson of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments, said: “As per the Emirates Fatwa Council, Eid Al Fitr prayers should be performed at home. Taking all precautionary measures to protect yourself and your family is a religious and national commitment.”
How to perform prayers at home
Ashfaq Ahmed, Assistant Editor
Eid prayer is performed the same way as it is offered in the mosques but there will be no Khutba (sermon), which is delivered by an Imam in the mosque. It is as simple as offering any other regular daily prayers.
Eid prayer has two rak’ahs but it has extra ‘takbeers’ (takbeer is an Arabic word referring to when “Allah-u- Akbar” is said to start the prayer and the hands are raised to the ears).
In any normal prayer, you say only one ‘takbeer’ but for Eid prayer, you say ‘takbeer’ for 12 times in two rak’ahs, according to the procedure followed in the UAE.
You must say seven takbeers in the first rak’ah and then start reciting the Quran as you do in normal prayers.
You must say extra five takbeers in the beginning of second rak’ah and then complete your prayer as normal.
In mosques, the Imam delivers the khutbah (sermon) of Eid but it is not allowed while you perform the prayer at home. You can perform the prayer alone or with members of your family.
