The celebration of Eid al-Fitr on Wednesday, April 10, will be limited as Muslims are told to abstain from having fun and entertaining activities, during this commemoration week of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, The New Times understands. Eid al-Fitr refers to an Arabic phrase meaning “Festival of Breaking Fast”, which marks the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting – with fasting happening from dawn to sunset. At the national level, Eid prayers will be held at Kigali Pele Stadium from 6:30 am, and will be led by the Mufti of Rwanda, Sheikh Salim Hitimana, the leadership of Rwanda Muslim Community (RMC) stated on April 8. The Leadership of #RMC wishes to inform all Muslims and general public that Wednesday 10th April is #EidAlFitr2024 festive. Eid prayers at National level will be held at Kigali Pele Stadium from 6:30am; His Eminence the @MuftiRwanda Sheikh Salim HITIMANA will lead the prayers. pic.twitter.com/X82z5WNAp0 — Rwanda Muslim Community (@islamrwanda) April 8, 2024 Normally, Eid al-Fitr is celebrated with a large prayer service in the morning, followed by social events as occasions for sharing meals and social interaction. People would slaughter livestock animals for meat that they would use to prepare pilau rice, and invite friends or neighbours to share meals. But, in the current situation, the social event will not be held as usual. “The period in which we are does not permit us to hold social events and invite people as we used to,” the Mufti of Rwanda, Sheikh Salim Hitimana, told The New Times. ALSO READ: Eid al-Fitr: Mufti tells Muslims to care for Genocide survivors, shun ‘evil’ An announcement signed by the Mufti of Rwanda, Sheikh Salim Hitimana, on April 9, 2024, stated that after realising that Eid al-Fitr coincides with the commemoration period for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, the top leadership of Rwanda Muslim Community (RMC) finds it necessary to convey a message meant to explain to Muslims how they should behave during the celebration of the day. It informs Muslims that Eid prayer will be held as usual – at selected sites in all districts of the country. In the above-mentioned announcement, the leadership of the Rwanda Muslim Community reminded Muslims that the mourning period is a period of sorrow whereby Rwandans and friends dedicate special attention and enough time to commemorate activities and pay tribute to the victims of the Genocide, to ensure that it won’t happen again. It further reminded Muslims that programmes or activities for having fun, entertainment, and ceremonies, are prohibited during the Genocide commemoration week. “The Rwanda Muslim Community (RMC) condoles with the families of the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, and wishes them to be strong, striving for living, and continuing their renewal, and requests Muslims to continue being characterised by the good culture we are taught by our religion to support Genocide survivors, comforting them, and standing by their side,” the announcement, in Kinyarwanda, reads in part. ALSO READ: Muslims urged to uphold values of love as they celebrate Eid al-Fitr On April 9, the Ministry of Public Service and Labour issued an announcement indicating that Wednesday, April 10, will be a public holiday to celebrate Eid al-Fitr.
