Mosques get creative for Eid
Some offer drive-thru gift handouts, others provide pre-recorded sermons
Mosques across Ontario are trying to salvage Eid celebrations as best they can during the COVID-19 pandemic, with some opting for drive-thru gift handouts while others plan to lead congregants in online prayers.
Eid al-Fitr is a celebration that comes at the end of Ramadan — the month in the Islamic calendar where Muslims around the world forgo food and drink from sunrise to sunset. This year, it starts after the last fast on Saturday and is celebrated on Sunday morning.
Usually, hundreds and thousands of Muslims crowd into neighbourhood mosques or gather at parks for a congregational prayer and sermon before embracing with others and visiting homes for food and drink throughout the day.
That won’t be the case this year, so the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) plans to hand out about 1,000 gifts to families during a drive-thru celebration at its mosque in Mississauga.
“It is a tough time, people are still scared, there’s still a lot of uncertainty, but we did not want that to overshadow the joy of Eid and the spiritual experience of Ramadan,” said Chihab Kaab, chair of the ISNA board.
The mosque has already been doing a drive-thru meal service throughout Ramadan. The practice replaces community dinners that are usually held at mosques throughout the month to break fast.
Kaab said the plan for Sunday is to hold the drive-thru from 10 a.m. to noon, at which point families will go home and be able to access a pre-recorded sermon and instructions to do the Eid prayer at home.
In St. Catharines, Masjid alNoor board member Hussein
Hamdani said a network of mosques discussed different ways to best celebrate the holiday while obeying physical-distancing rules.
Masjid al-Noor decided to release an online sermon and give congregants instructions on how to do the Eid prayer at home with their families.
“It’s tough because it’s been a month of fasting,” said Hamdani, noting it’s a taxing time for Muslims, who generally look forward to celebrating its end together.
Back in Mississauga, Kaab said he’s been overjoyed to see that the idea of drive-thru Eid celebrations is catching on. Drive-thru meals for Ramadan have also taken place in other parts of the country, with Al Rashid Mosque in Edmonton handing out over 1,000 meals in a day.
“I’ve seen posters all over the city promoting the same thing,” Kaab said.
“It’s beautiful. That was the whole purpose.”