By: Muhammad Yasin)*
The high number of Corona cases has made the Ministry of Religion urge people in the emergency PPKM zone to pray Eid al-Adha and takbiran at home. This decision was taken to prevent the formation of a new Corona cluster and Eid prayer at home does not reduce the essence of worship in the slightest.
Eid al-Adha pa d a 2021 issued on 20 J uly 2021. Just like in 2020, Eid al-Adha is also carried out in the middle of the 19th covid pandemic. The pandemic, which has not yet subsided, has forced the government to implement some of the same regulations as on Eid al-Adha last year.
Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas stated that Eid al-Adha and takbiran prayers in 2021 will be carried out at home, especially in areas affected by emergency PPKM. This refers to the circular of the Minister of Religion of the Republic of Indonesia number 17 of 2021 regarding the temporary abolition of worship in places of worship, takbiran nights, Eid al-Adha prayers , and technical instructions for the implementation of sacrifices.
In areas affected by the emergency PPKM, Eid al-Adha prayers are held at their respective homes. This is permissible because it is still religiously valid and has merit. So don’t be fooled by the hoax that says that the government prohibits the worship of its people, because during the pandemic the regulations were changed for the safety of the citizens themselves.
The absence of Eid al-Adha prayers in the field or the grand mosque because it prevents the formation of a new Corona cluster . Moreover, the number of Covid patients is increasing, more than 30,000 people per day are infected with this virus. Don’t let this number spike after Eid al-Adha , because generally prayers are held in a crowd and then there is a handshake session that can transmit Corona from OTG.
To prevent other clusters, the slaughter of sacrificial animals cannot be carried out in the courtyard of the mosque as usual. However, it is carried out in a slaughterhouse (RPH). After being slaughtered, cut, and put in a container, the sacrificial meat will be sent directly to those who are entitled to receive it. This is also to reduce the crowd due to queues from the poor.
Meanwhile, for other regions (which are not in the red and orange zones) the Minister of Religion will comply with the circular number 16 of 2021 regarding technical instructions regarding the implementation of takbiran, Eid al-Adha prayers , and the implementation of qurban outside the emergency PPMK area. Eid al-Adha prayers may be held in the mosque/field as usual, but must comply with health protocols.
In a sense, when performing Eid prayers, there is a distance between prayer mats, pilgrims are required to wear masks, perform ablution in their respective homes, and cannot shake hands directly. The handshake is only remotely to avoid droplets , because we don’t know which of the pilgrims has OTG status.
In the green and yellow zones, takbiran can also be carried out but there is no takbir around by truck/walking as usual. Takbiran is only available in mosques or prayer rooms and is carried out by a maximum of 10 people. So it doesn’t make a crowd.
The strict rules for Eid al-Adha in 2021 are the government’s way to prevent the new Corona cluster . The reason is because the situation is currently precarious, when Covid patients are fighting over beds in the hospital, some are even forced to be treated in the lobby or parking lot because the inside is full. They also fight over oxygen cylinders because of shortness of breath.
Therefore, as good citizens, let’s obey the rules during an emergency PPKM. Eid al-Adha prayers can be performed at home alone, with family members, and still be rewarded. Don’t be afraid to pray at home because He is merciful and forgiving. Meanwhile, the slaughter of sacrificial animals is carried out at the RPH and mobile takbirs are closed.
)* The author is a contributor to Pertiwi Institute
