Celebrating Raya while complying with SOP
KOTA KINABALU: It was a modest Raya celebration for Sabah Archery Association (SAA) this year as its members and leaders complied with directives to maintain social distancing in the fight against Covid-19.
“Raya celebration was very different this year. It was the first time in history that we performed Raya at home and not at the mosque,” said SAA president Ir Dzulkarnain Dzulkifli.
The Raya prayers and sermon is the first order of the day where Muslim men would gather at the mosque before going about the festivities with family and friends.
But due to the Covid-19 pandemic and movement control order, all religious congregation have been banned to ensure social distancing is maintained.
“We also could not visit our family and friends or invite them over as the government made clear directives on the matter,” Dzulkarnain said, while adding that the restrictions undoubtedly made Raya less cheerful.
“We also did not go to Papar to visit the grave of my father and grandparents. We only recited yaasin and tahlil at home,” he said.
Despite not being able to perform the common rituals associated with Raya festivities and celebration, Dzulkarnain said he was grateful that everyone in the family was safe and still able to enjoy Raya together.
“There are plenty of things we could not do but the bright side for us is that all my family members, my wife, my sons and my daughters were able to gather at home.
“Like everyone else, I also wish to have a normal Raya but the important thing is that we must carry out our duty to help fight Covid-19 by complying with all SOPs and directives from the government so that we can overcome the outbreak in Malaysia especially Sabah,” he said.
Towards this end, Dzulkarnain wished all Sabahan Muslims a Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri Maaf Zahir Batin.