Aidiladha celebrated in moderation

Under pleasant skies, thousands of Muslims performed their Hari Raya prayers, followed by the sacrificial slaughter of cattle.

KUALA LUMPUR: Muslims nationwide celebrated the Aidiladha in moderation and in cautious mode today following the possibility of flooding due to the rainy season, especially in states in the northern part of the peninsula.

However, pleasant weather in the morning allowed Muslims to perform their Hari Raya prayers, followed by the sacrificial slaughter of cattle.

There are currently 28,000 Malaysians performing the haj including Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor.

The prime minister and his wife left for Saudi Arabia on Oct 31 accompanied by Najib’s mother Rahah Mohamad Noah, brother Mohamed Nazim and Perak Menteri Besar Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.

In KUALA LUMPUR about 10,000 people, including foreigners, performed the Aidiladha prayers at the National Mosque. They arrived as early as 7am to perform prayers led by the Grand Imam, Ustaz Ehsan Mohd Hosni.

Muslims celebrating the Aidiladha in the city also took the opportunity to take part in the qurban (sacrifice) in mosques and surau, as well as hold open houses to foster closer relationships with family and friends.

In KUALA TERENGGANU, state secretary Mazlan Ngah and about 2,000 other Muslims performed the Aidiladha prayers at the Al-Muktafi Billah Shah Mosque in Ladang.

Celebrations in the state were lively amid a fine weather.

The Aidiladha was also celebrated on a moderate scale in PERLIS. The fine weather in the morning allowed Muslims to perform the sacrifice after the prayers.

The state government contributed 45 cows and another 42 by Arau member of parliament Ismail Kasim to be sacrificed during the celebration.

In IPOH, the Regent of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah and Raja Dihilir of Perak Raja Jaafar Raja Muda Musa joined over 3,000 Muslims to perform the Aidiladha prayers at the Sultan Azlan Shah Mosque.

In SHAH ALAM, some 10,000 Muslims performed the Aidiladha prayers along with Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah and Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim at the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque.

Muslim foreign students, especially those studying at the Al-Madinah International University, and foreign workers, also performed their prayers at the state mosque.

The sacrificial ceremony started at 10.15am, involving 34 cows.

In SANDAKAN, Chief Minister Musa Aman performed the Aidiladha prayers with over 2,000 Muslims at Taman Merpati Mosque.

Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sabah Juhar Mahiruddin is now in Mecca to perform the haj.

In ALOR STAR, Sultan of Kedah Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Ibni Sultan Badlishah joined thousands of Muslims in the city for prayers at the Zahir Mosque.

Also present were Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak, members of the state executive council and senior state government officers.

Locals enjoyed the good weather, unlike the shower storms which hit several parts of Kedah in the past two days and damaged hundreds of homes.

Meanwhile, in PENANG, Yang di-Pertua Negeri Abdul Rahman Abbas performed the prayers at the state mosque with 2,000 other Muslims.

Sunny weather in the morning also allowed locals a chance to celebrate Aidiladha by visiting friends and relatives.

In MALACCA, Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam and 7,000 Muslims prayed at the Al-Azim Mosque in Bukit Palah.

They were also joined by State Legislative Assembly Speaker Othman Muhamad, state executive council members and senior government officers.

In JOHOR BARU, the Tunku Mahkota of Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim performed Aidiladha prayers with about 2,000 others at the Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque here.

Menteri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman and several state executive council members also prayed with them at the state mosque.

-Bernama