The management of Muslim Ummah of South West, MUSWEN has urged muslims in south western Nigeria to observe Eid prayers at home in light of the lockdown necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
MUSWEN made the call as part of the guidelines they issued to the public on COVID-19 and Eid celebration made available to newsmen.
They also urged Muslims to start looking out for the crescent of shawwal shortly before magrib of Friday 29th Ramadan 1441, equivalent to 22nd May 2020, communicate any sighting to MUSWEN on 08033579545 or 08096898432 but wait patiently for a formal announcement of the exact day of Eid by the President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.
The statement read in part, “the look of things, it is not likely that the current social distancing regulations put in place by governments in the States in the South West of Nigeria, necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic would be relaxed by Eid day, consequently it is not likely that observance of Eid prayers at the Eid Prayer grounds would be possible.
“However all Muslims are urged to put on their best dresses on the Eid day as recommended by authentic traditions of the Prophet (SAW), but STAY SAFELY AT HOME marking the Eid day with the family, in view of the movement restrictions necessitated by the pandemic..
“On the eve of the Eid day or after the Fajir prayer of the Eid Day and shortly before the usual time for the Eid Prayer, Zakat el-Fitri is expected to be given out to the poor on behalf of EVERY member of the family, from infant to the oldest person, male or female.
“The measure of Zakat el-Fitr per person is four measures of the “mudun-Nabiy” (the Prophetic measure) which has been approximated to about 14 usual milk-tins known in most markets of South West Nigeria, in grains popular for food in the area such as rice, beans, maize and millet or other staple food item such as gari. Rice and gari however seem to have a great deal of acceptance in South West Nigeria.
“Similarly, although food items as mentioned above are preferable, some scholars have no objection to monetization, if one calculates the monetary value of the measures of the various items mentioned above. For example, from the current market value of Rice, in most markets the sum of about N700 (seven hundred Naira only) is calculated as the monetary equivalent to be given out for Zakat el-Fitri per person in the South West of Nigeria this year.”
