Eid mubarak sans embrace this time?

LUCKNOW: Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Farangi Mahal issued a fatwa on Monday stating that Muslims should offer Eid namaz and

Alvida Namaz

(last Friday of Ramzan) in their homes if Lockdown 3.0 is extended beyond May 17 and mosques remain closed for devout.

Also, there will be no embraces or handshakes on Eid, except with family members at home, the fatwa stated.

Eid is likely to be celebrated on May 25.

The fatwa was signed by four clerics — Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahli,

Maulana Nasrullah

, Maulana Naeem-ur-Rahman Siddiqui and Maulana

Mohammad Mushtaq

— of the Lucknow-based seminary.

Seminary’s Darul Ifta (which can proclaim fatwas) had received some Eid related queries from a Lucknow resident,

Fazlur Rehman

, about the namaz, buying new clothes, khutba to be recited, and other celebrations.

The fatwa states that buying new clothes is not mandatory and that if lockdown is extended then Eid namaz should be offered in homes only.

“Darul Ifta has ordained that Eid will be celebrated in homes with families, and

Alvida Juma Namaz

and Eid namaz will also be offered in homes. If the lockdown is extended beyond May 17 and mosques continue to be off limits, Eid will be celebrated as per the government protocols on lockdown,” said Maulana Khalid Rasheed.

He added that, as mentioned in fatwa too, buying new clothes on Eid is not mandatory and whatever best and clean clothes one already has, should be worn on the day.

“For Alvida and Eid namaz, the Imam and muezzin (person who gives out the azaan) of the mosque and only three other people, should offer the prayers in the mosque. This count should not exceed beyond five people following social distancing norms,” said the cleric.

The fatwa also asked the people not to step out of their homes to greet others on Eid, and instead exchange greetings with friends and relatives over the phone. The biggest charity would be to help the needy and celebrate a simple Eid, the fatwa added.