Sunni cleric terms two Eids as 'sad'

LUCKNOW: Almost 10 years after the rare instance of Eid-ul-Fitr being celebrated on multiple days was reported, the 2-day Eid (an unusual phenomenon) surfaced on July 6 & July 7. Shia community celebrated its Eid on July 6, while the Sunnis celebrated it on July 7. However, the two-day festivity did not create any rift among the two Muslim sects.

Elaborating further on this, Imam of Lucknow’s Eidgah, Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali said, “In 2006, instances of 2-3 Eids had cropped up, after which a meeting of all the Chaand Committees (Moon Sighting Committees) were held and it was decided that dates would be announced in mutual consultation with each other.”

He further stated that the announcement of Eid by the Shia Chaand Committee was indeed “sad” (afsosjanak). “Eid is a joyous occasion for everyone, and hence differences (like these) should not be made public,” Khalid Rasheed said.

When asked whether the announcement of a separate Eid date is a retaliation to the ISIS atrocities unleashed on the Shia population, Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali, said, “As far as ISIS atrocities are concerned, Sunnis have suffered 10 times more than the Shias.”

Shia cleric and Imam-e-Juma Shahi Asafi Masjid, Lucknow Maulana Kalbe Jawwad, when asked the same question said, “We celebrated Eid on July 6, when we got orders from Ayatollah Sistani (spiritual leader) that Eid be celebrated throughout the world on July 6.” He further stated that the attack and atrocities unleashed by ISIS is not at all responsible for the change of Eid-ul-Fitr celebration date.