In preparation for Eid Al Adha 2024, the Dubai Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department has announced the allocation of 851 mosques across the city to host the special Eid prayers. These prayers, a significant part of the Eid celebrations, will commence at 5:45 am, just after sunrise, allowing worshippers to perform their rituals conveniently at a nearby mosque.
Eid Al Adha, known as the “Festival of Sacrifice,” is one of the most important holidays in the Islamic calendar. The prayer, performed in a large congregation, consists of two units (rakats) and is followed by a sermon (khutbah) that highlights the significance of the occasion and offers moral guidance. Unlike regular prayers, there are no calls to prayer (Adhan or Iqama) for the Eid prayer, and it features extra takbirs, with seven additional takbirs in the first rakat and five in the second before reciting Surah Al Fatiha.
Following the prayer, Muslims engage in Qurbani, the ritual slaughter of an animal such as a sheep, goat, cow, or camel. This act symbolizes the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son in obedience to God. The meat from the sacrifice is then distributed among family, friends, and the less fortunate.
In Sharjah, the Department of Islamic Affairs has similarly allocated 640 musallas and mosques for Eid Al Adha prayers. These include public squares and designated prayer areas throughout the cities and suburbs of the emirate. Specific allocations include 447 musallas and mosques in Sharjah City and Al Hamriyah, 106 in the Central Region, and 87 in the Eastern Region.
To accommodate the diverse community, several musallas and mosques in Sharjah will offer services in multiple languages, including Urdu, Malayalam, Tamil, and English. Additionally, at the Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal Mosque in the Al Jazzat area, the Eid sermon will be instantly translated into sign language for those with hearing impairments.
Both Dubai and Sharjah authorities have ensured that the prayer areas and external spaces are prepared to accommodate the large number of worshippers expected to attend. Specialised teams have been deployed to ready the facilities, including installing cooling and sound systems. Mosque personnel have been instructed to open the mosques after Fajr prayers to welcome the worshippers.
The scheduled times for Eid Al Adha prayers in Sharjah are as follows:
– 5:44 am in Sharjah City and Al Hamriyah
– 5:43 am in Al Dhaid and Al Bataeh
– 5:44 am in Al Madam and Mleiha
– 5:41 am in the Eastern Region
This comprehensive preparation ensures that worshippers across the UAE can participate in the significant religious observances of Eid Al Adha with ease and reverence.