Eid: Celebrities urge Muslims to celebrate festival at home - BBC News
TV baker Nadiya Hussain and Citizen Khan's Adil Ray encourage Muslims to enjoy the festival virtually.
Celebrities including baker Nadiya Hussain and Citizen Khan creator Adil Ray have urged Muslims celebrating Eid this weekend to follow social distancing guidelines.

Traditionally, the festival is marked with communal prayers in mosques and visits to friends and family.

But in a video posted online, Muslims were encouraged to stay at home and celebrate with their families online.

Hussain said "now could not be a better time to put others first".

Eid is celebrated at the end of the fasting month of Ramadan and is a special time for nearly two billion Muslims all over the world.

The Eid al-Fitr prayers are usually among the best attended of the year, however, mosques are currently closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Addressing his fellow Muslims in the video, Ray said: "This year, we can stay home, save lives and give consideration to others. What a wonderful Eid gift that would be."

Former Blue Peter presenter and children's book author Konnie Huq, who also appears in the video, said: "By following the guidance we are helping to protect not just ourselves but also our families."

This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. View original content on Twitter The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Skip twitter post by Nadiya Jamir Hussain MBE This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

At Thursday's Downing Street coronavirus briefing, a member of the public asked about advice for those celebrating Eid this weekend.

Mehwish from Coventry asked: "With the BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) coronavirus death rate being relatively high, will you be advising the Muslim community to stay at home or stay alert during the upcoming three-day celebration of Eid?

"If not, what is your advice for them? As a member I am concerned that some people may be finding ways to flout the rules like having garden parties or gatherings."

Millions of Muslims have been observing Ramadan under lockdown this year

Chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty said religious celebrations for all faiths will have to continue to be adapted to meet social distancing rules.

He said: "Everybody knows what those rules are and they remain the same for every community.

"And the reason we must all do that is, this is to protect the whole community, all communities and all of us must find ways around this, of whatever faith."

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Some British Muslims have been breaking their fast over Zoom

Earlier this week, the Muslim Council of Britain - an umbrella organisation of various UK Muslim bodies - said people should celebrate Eid at home and virtually.