LIVE | Eid-ul-Fitr 2021 moon sighting in India: Crescent not sighted in Lucknow

Happy Eid ul Fitr 2021: Here are some wishes and messages which you can send to friends and family on the occasion of Eid. Read...

According to Maulana Khalid Rasheed of Markazi Chand Committee Farangi Mahali, the Shawwal crescent was not seen in UP capital (Lucknow) today. Tomorrow i.e. Thursday May 13 will be the thirtieth fast of Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Friday, May 14.

Following the 10-day statewide lockdown in Telangana from May 12, all places of worship will be closed beginning Wednesday which means there will be no Eid-ul-Fitr prayers in the state's mosques this year. The state government issued orders that no religious gatherings or congregations will be permitted.

According to Islamic Finder, the dua to say on sighting the Shawaal crescent or the moon that will mark end of Ramadan and beginning of Eid is, "Allahumma ahlilhu `alainā bil-yumni wal-iman, was-salamati wal-Islam, rabbi wa rabbuk Allah"

Translation: "O Allah, bring it over us with blessing and faith, and security and Islam. My Lord and your Lord is Allah."

The Islamic Center of India, in Uttar Pradesh's capital city of Lucknow has issued an advisory on special Eid-ul-Fitr prayers amid Covid-19.

“Eid-ul-Fitr should be celebrated with simplicity. People should stay inside their homes and follow all Covid-19 protocols which have been imposed for our own safety. People are requested to abide by all guidelines. People should not go out and meet others. They should congratulate each other through social media platforms. Only five people living in the mosque will offer Eid-ul-Fitr prayers. At the same time, pray for the elimination of this disease (coronavirus) after Namaz," said Shahi Imam-E-Eidgah, Maulana Khalid Rasheed, from Farangi Mahali.

Chairman of the Bengal Imams Association Mohammed Yahiya backs prayers in small groups and following Covid-19 protocols. He said, "As the entire healthcare system in the country is under severe stress due to the emerging situation, we should be careful not to allow assembly of people during prayers. If we can exercise restraint and follow every necessary restriction required to stop the spread, we will avert the third wave."

In lieu of the alarming spike in Covid-19 cases, Masjid committees in Assam have decided not to have mass prayers at the masjids or Eidgah fields. According to an office-bearer of the Burha Jame Masjid Committee in Guwahati, only five persons including Maulana and the staff will offer prayers in the mosque's premises while large congregations will be avoided along with the traditional shake of hands with one another or exchange of embraces due to the Covid-19 protocols of social distancing.

The Muslim clerics too have reiterated the state government's recent guidelines allowing congregation of only five persons at a time at all religious places and have asked the believers to not crowd mosques.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani calls people to offer Eid prayers at home. "I appeal to all Muslims to perform Eid prayers following all local Covid-related protocols and guidelines. Do not gather in large numbers and it would be best that you perform prayers inside your homes," he told PTI.

Ranchi's Head of Edara-e-Sharia, Maulana Qutubuddin Rizvi, urged everyone in the capital and elsewhere in Jharkhand to follow all the Covid-19 norms set by the government for Eid prayers this week.

The former secretary of Gumla Anjum Islamia, Shahjad Anwar, too appealed to Muslims across the state to be supportive of the Covid-19 norms and to keep in mind the current health crisis as they celebrate the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr.

Association of All Goa Muslim Jamaats stated that the special congregational Eid-ul-fitr namaz will not be held at any mosque or eidgah in the state owing to the spike in Covid-19 cases and appealed to the Muslims across Goa to perform the namaz at their homes. In their letter of appeal, the association stated that only custodians and caretakers of the mosques will be allowed inside the masjid premises for special Eid-ul-Fitr namaz.

Mufti Mukarram said in a video message that the sharia permitted praying at home in such unusual situations and people needed to follow Covid-19 protocols. "Over four lakh people have been infected with the virus and almost 3,000 people are dying per day. There are no beds, medicines and the appropriate amount of vaccine in the hospital. I appealed to the community to offer prayers of Eid at home," the Shahi Imam said.

As per Dr Mufti Mohd Mukarram Ahmed, the Shahi Imam of Delhi's Fatehpuri Mosque, Eid ul-Fitr will be celebrated on May 13 or 14 this year depending on the visibility of the crescent moon.