JEDDAH, 6 December 2002 — The Kingdom yesterday joined millions of Muslims around the world to celebrate Eid Al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. The festivities however were tinged with anxiety over continuing Israeli aggression in the Palestinian territories, the prospects of a war on Iraq and growing anti-Islamic sentiment in the West.
Eid prayers were held at the two holy mosques in Makkah and Madinah and in mosques and open grounds throughout the country with preachers calling on the believers to stand up to their enemies and respond to the plight of fellow Muslims everywhere.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd, Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, and Sheikh Abdullah Al-Ahmar, speaker of the Yemeni Parliament, and other dignitaries offered Eid prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, while Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, joined thousands of Muslims offering Eid prayers at Imam Turki ibn Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh. Many members of the royal family, dignitaries and diplomats offered prayers at the Dira Eid Ground.
Sheikh Mohammed Al-Subail, imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, in his Eid sermon called upon Muslim leaders to confront growing challenges facing the Ummah by strengthening political and economic cooperation among Islamic states.
Addressing more than two million faithful who assembled at the Grand Mosque, Sheikh Subail expressed despair over the plight of Muslims everywhere. He reminded the believers that while they celebrated Eid, their brothers were being oppressed, displaced or expelled from their homes by forces inimical to the faith.
Sheikh Subail urged Muslim leaders to focus their attention not only on the progress of individual countries but also on the common good of the Ummah, making use of the vast human and material resources in Muslim countries.
“Establishing cooperation and integration among Muslim countries is essential for restoring our past glory and preventing injustice and aggression against fellow Muslims,” the imam said. He called upon the faithful to shun extremism and stick to Islam’s moderate teachings.
In his sermon at Imam Turki ibn Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh, Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh, the Kingdom’s grand mufti, urged the believers to hold firm to the teaching of the Holy Qur’an and the Prophet’s Sunnah. “More than at any time, we need to unify our ranks now and stand with our leadership against those who threaten our religion and security,” he added.
Sheikh Hussein ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh, who led the prayers at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, urged the faithful to show benevolence to the poor and extend assistance to the needy. “Muslims must abide by the fundamental teachings of Islam to show the world the greatness of their religion,” he said. “Islam urges its followers to do good to everybody,” the imam said.
He also emphasized the role of women in defending Islam and bringing up new generations of Muslims.
In Jeddah Eid prayers were held at different sites. Dr. Hasan Al-Ghazali, professor of Islamic studies at the Teachers College in Jeddah, led the prayer held the Old Airport ground where several thousand worshipers had gathered.
In the Eastern Province, Governor Prince Muhammad ibn Fahd, accompanied by princes, high-ranking officials and businessmen, offered Eid prayers at the main mosque in Dammam. After the prayers, the prince received members of the public who offered him Eid greetings. Prince Muhammad in turn wished happiness and prosperity for the Ummah.
Keeping with tradition, people greeted each other across regional and national boundaries after the prayers.
During the day people remained indoors and celebrated Eid with family and streets and marketplaces were almost deserted. Most of the shops in Dammam and Alkhobar markets remained closed. However, visitors thronged shopping malls in Dammam and Alkhobar.
As evening approached, people headed to beaches and amusement centers. Half Moon Beach was the main attraction including many visitors from Bahrain and Kuwait. Many put up tents in the area.
The Rashid Mall has planned several cultural events as part of Eid celebrations. Hotels like Gulf Meridien, Dhahran International Hotel, Algosaibi Hotel, Holiday Inn and Dammam Sheraton Towers are also offering special Eid packages. Business, however, was not good for furnished apartments. Many of them reported low occupancy.
Yesterday’s festivities were preceded by an overnight rush for Eid purchases. The capital’s major shopping centers reported brisk sales, boosted in part by bargain offers and lucky draws.
Unlike the fasting days when mosques were full of worshipers and shopping centers teeming with customers, Riyadh wore a deserted look after the Eid prayers. While many expatriates had gone home on vacation at the start of the holidays, most those who stayed behind opted to remain indoors.
By afternoon however, children and parents flocked to amusement parks. Picnic spots are also attracting families wishing to spend quiet evenings during the Eid holidays.
— P.K. Abdul Ghafour in Jeddah, Saeed Haider in Dammam & M. Ghazanfar Ali Khan in Riyadh
