Muslims perform Eid prayers with distancing

JAKARTA (Reuters) – Muslims across Asia, taking precautions against the novel coronavirus such as wearing face masks and temperature checks, performed prayers yesterday to mark the festival of Eid al-Adha in mosques with reduced capacity as well as on the streets.

In Indonesia, worshippers were advised to maintain social distancing during the prayers as the world’s biggest Muslim-majority country struggles to contain the spread of the virus.

Indonesia’s religious ministry also asked mosques to shorten ceremonies this year, while many mosques canceled the ritual of slaughtering livestock and distributing meat to the community.

Instead, the donated sheep, goats and cows will be killed in abattoirs to mark the “Feast of the Sacrifice,” celebrated by Muslims around the world to commemorate Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail at God’s command.