Eid celebrations start across Saudi Arabia

 In an air of festivity and religious fervor, Muslims all over Saudi Arabia started celebrating on Tuesday the Eid Al-Fitr, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.

In their Eid sermons, imams at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, as well as at thousands of mosques and prayer grounds across the Kingdom urged the faithful to uphold the true spirit of spirituality and piety that they have attained through fasting and prayers in the holy month throughout the remainder of their life.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman joined over a million worshipers who performed Eid Al-Fitr prayer at the Grand Mosque. Those who performed prayer along with the King included Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Al-Hariri, Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, emir of Makkah and adviser to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Prince Ahmad, Prince Muqrin, Prince Turki Al-Faisal, several other princes, ministers, Islamic scholars, sheikhs and senior civilian and military officials.

After the Eid prayer, King Salman received at Al-Safa Palace Saad Al-Hariri and other prominent figures who came to greet him on the occasion of Eid. The King left Makkah on Tuesday morning for Jeddah after spending the last days of Ramadan in the vicinity of the Holy Kaaba.

At the Grand Mosque, the Eid prayer was led by Sheikh Saleh Bin Humaid, adviser at the Royal Court and imam and khateeb of the Grand Mosque.

In the sermon, Bin Humaid underscored that Eid is not only a day of joy for Muslims but also a unique opportunity to further strengthening their closer bonds to God through celebration of the values of humanity, enhanced family relations, compassion, love, empathy and forgiveness.

Emphasizing the community life of Muslims, he said that a believer, who mingles with people and endures their harm, will have greater reward than a believer who does not mingle with people and thus avoid enduring their harm.

Sheikh Bin Huamaid identified four qualities that will strengthen affection among people, saying they are mutual visit, greeting with saying Salam, shaking hands, and exchanging gifts. He also alerted the believers on the manners to be observed while visiting others and hosting guests.

More than one million faithful gathered at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah where the Eid sermon was delivered by Sheikh Salah Bin Muhammad Al-Budair. Millions of Muslims including women and children turned out to offer Eid prayers at mosques and prayer grounds across the Kingdom. The Imams who led Eid prayer congratulated Muslims on the blessed festival, praying to Allah Almighty to accept their fasting, prayers, charity and good deeds.

Emirs of provinces, governors and senior officials attended Eid prayers in various regions of the Kingdom. Those who performed prayer at the Prophet’s Mosque included Prince Faisal Bin Salman, emir of Madinah, and Prince Saud Bin Khaled Al-Faisal, deputy emir of Madinah.

Riyadh Emir Prince Faisal Bin Bandar was among those who attended Eid prayer at Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh where the Eid sermon was delivered by Sheikh Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh.