Fatwa on fasting

The fatwa on fasting rules that:

• fasting is mandatory for healthy people who are required to fast
• COVID-19 patients need not fast when the virus symptoms appear and if they were told by the physicians that fasting will make their condition worse
• frontline medical workers are permitted to skip fasting while on duty, if they fear that fasting could lead to weakening their immunity
• senior Emiratis and especially the ones with chronic diseases or who have a breathing difficulty are permitted to skip fasting.

Fatwa on prayers

The fatwa on prayers rules that:

• the Taraweeh prayers will not be allowed in mosques during Ramadan. They could be performed individually at home, or the male family member who has the most responsibility for taking care of and making decisions about the household may lead the prayer for his family by either reciting the Quranic verses or reading from the Quran. The council warns against congregating to perform prayers, as this could endanger lives. It stresses that performing Friday prayer is not permissible during the suspension of mosque services. Instead, Muslims should perform their Dhuhr (noon) regular prayer at their homes.

• if the pandemic continues until the time of Eid Al Fitr, people may perform Eid Al Fitr prayer individually at their homes or in a group with their respective family members without a sermon.

Fatwa on Zakat Al Fitr

The fatwa on Zakat Al Fitr clarifies that Muslims can pay Zakat Al Fitr at the beginning of Ramadan to relieve the suffering of vulnerable people in the UAE who are badly impacted by COVID-19

Zakat must be paid to relevant authorities such as Zakat Fund or other charitable organisations that are authorised to collect Zakat and deliver them to the beneficiaries.

Emirates Fatwa Council urges the public to adhere to the health practices and precautionary measures in place to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. The council warns against congregating to perform prayers, as this could endanger lives.

Use this service to pay Zakat Al Fitr online.

For more information contact:

• General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (Awqaf)
• Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD).

Read more:

• Emirates Fatwa Council discusses jurisprudence updates of COVID-19 during Ramadan -WAM
• COVID-19: Let's continue social distancing during Ramadan - WAM.