Millions of people in Iran and across the Muslim world are celebrating the auspicious religious occasion of Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice), which marks the climax of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, while observing health protocols and social distancing rules amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In Iran, people attended the Eid al-Adha prayers and remembered the memory of 464 Iranian pilgrims, who lost their lives during a hajj stampede in Mina, Saudi Arabia, in September 2015, which Tehran blamed on the Saudi organizers’ incompetence.
Muslims attend Eid al-Adha prayers at the courtyard of a mosque in northern Tehran, Iran, on July 31, 2020. (Photo by Tasnim news agency)
In Iraq's northern semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, Eid prayers were conducted with massive throngs of worshipers in attendance in the city of Sulaymaniyah despite a tight curfew.
Muslims attend Eid al-Adha prayers in Sulaymaniyah city, Iraq's northern semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, on July 31, 2020. (Photo by Shafaaq news agency)
The Iraqi government is imposing an 11-day full curfew during the Eid al-Adha holiday.
The Higher Committee for Health and National Safety, headed by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, said the earlier this week that the curfew would run from July 30 to August 9 to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Thousands of people attended the special congregational prayer at Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque in Turkey’s largest city of Istanbul on Friday to mark the holy Muslim day.
Muslims attend Eid al-Adha prayers at the iconic Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, on July 31, 2020. (Photo by Anadolu news agency)
Turkish Parliament speaker Mustafa Sentop, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Ali Karaismailoglu, Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya and Istanbul’s Fatih district mayor Mehmet Ergun Turan joined the worshippers at the iconic building, which was reconverted to a mosque earlier this month.
In Syria, thousands of people filled mosques across the war-torn country.
Eid Al-Adha prayers were performed at homes in the capital Damascus and its countryside after the Ministry of Endowment did not allow gatherings in light of the increasing coronavirus cases.
Muslims attend Eid al-Adha prayers at in the coastal city of Latakia, western Syria, on July 31, 2020. (Photo by SANA)
Palestine’s official Wafa news agency reported that more than 27,000 worshipers performed Eid al-Adha prayers at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem al-Quds on Friday.
Muslims attend Eid al-Adha prayers at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem al-Quds on July 31, 2020. (Photo by Wafa news agency)
Ceremonies were held throughout the besieged Gaza Strip as well, with people attending prayers at mosques and sacrificing livestock.
Eid al-Adha honors Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son, Ismael, as an act of obedience to God's command.
But, before Ibrahim could carry out the divine order, God provided a lamb to sacrifice instead.