Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Bin Abdullah Al-Sheikh, who is also the chairman of the Council of Senior Religious Scholars, and General President for Religious Research and Ruling (Iftaa), has said that holding Eid prayer and sermon (khutba) three times, each for a different congregation, in countries, where there are Muslim minorities, is permissible due to coronavirus restrictions.Answering a question on the permissibility for Muslim minorities to hold Eid prayer and sermon thrice due to a large number of worshipers who need to follow the anti-coronavirus precautionary measures and the limited number of mosques, the Grand Mufti said: “It is not permitted to repeat the Eid prayer in one prayer area for one congregation after another without necessity or urgency because this is an innovated act.” The Grand Mufti quoted the Prophet (peace be upon him) as saying: “Whoever creates an innovation in religion when it was not existent earlier, the innovation should be rejected.” The Grand Mufti added that some religious scholars approved it in cases of dire need, on a case by case basis. As to our current situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the precautionary measures to prevent contracting the infection or spreading it, holding Eid prayer and its sermon thrice, that is, for three successive congregations, one after the other, can be permitted due to dire need, provided all abide by the prophetic concept that “A Muslim should not cause harm to others nor should he suffers any harm.” In his decision to permit the holding of three consecutive congregations for Eid prayer and sermon, the Grand Mufti gave several reasons on which he based his decision, including protection of lives, as one of the great goals of the Islamic Shariah, the gathering of Muslims in one place in large numbers is likely to cause an infection and spread the disease, to enable the crowds of Muslims not to miss winning the great rewards from Allah Almighty for performing Eid prayer in congregation, particularly in countries having Muslim minorities and their inability to have a vast prayer ground outside the city, where all Muslims can pray together in one congregation