Amid Covid, faithful to mark Day of Arafah today
For the second year in a row, the holy land of Arafah will see a limited number of pilgrims and with minimal customary rituals.
The auspicious day of Arafah, which falls on the 9th day of the month of Dhul Hijjah is on Monday, and pilgrims have been urged to follow precautionary measures issued by the Supreme Committee and the Ministry of Health in coordination with the Royal Oman Police (ROP) by not gathering anywhere.
The Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs has called on believers not to step out unless it’s really necessary.
“Abiding by the rules of the country and respecting the authorities are the Islamic way and one must keep away from spreading the pandemic’’, a senior official at the religious office, Ibda’a, said.
“Both citizens and expatriates are expected to celebrate Eid al Adha within their immediate families and the celebrations shouldn’t extend out of their premises which is a crime and attracts punitive action’’, he said.
Arafah day is a highly auspicious day for all Muslims across the world, and it is the day that Haj pilgrims move to Mina as part of the rituals. This is the time for everyone to pray, supplicate and make duas for themselves as well as their families and for the humanity as a whole against the pandemic.
The day of Arafah is followed by Eid al Adha which is on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah (July 20).
Authorities have earlier found that many family gatherings flouting Covid-19 precautionary measures have contributed to the high incidence of infection among the people in Oman.
“Many have taken the recent eased restrictions for granted and gathered at various places in the past weeks’’, he said, adding that gatherings are the sole reason behind the soaring coronavirus cases.