Muslims throughout the country celebrated Aidilfitri today by performing prayers at mosques in the morning and then hosted "open house" at their homes.

The celebrations were all the more merrier as Aidilfitri this year fell on the eve of the nation's 54th anniversary of independence, which has houses, shops and business premises flying the national flag.

islam religion muslim mosque 1 Many Muslims here had returned to their hometowns and villages to celebrate the festival, but those who stayed back attended prayers in the city and held open house as well.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin performed Aidilfitri prayers at the National Mosque, along with 15,000 fellow Muslims.

Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and his wife Noorainee Abdul Rahman, and several cabinet ministers and foreign diplomats also performed prayers at the mosque.

Open houses at Istana and PM's residence

The prayers were led by the grand imam of the mosque, Syaikh Ismail Muhammad and the "khutbah" (sermon) was delivered by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom.

After the prayers, members of the congregation shook hands with Tuanku Mizan, Najib and Muhyiddin.

Tuanku Mizan and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah then held open house at the Istana Negara.

Najib and cabinet ministers held open house at the prime minister's official residence, Seri Perdana, from 1pm to 6pm.

In Selangor , more than 15,000 people joined the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, to perform Aidilfitri prayers at the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque in Shah Alam.

Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, state secretary Mohammed Khusrin Munawi and Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) director Marzuki Hussin also performed prayers there. The prayers were led by Selangor mufti Mohd Tamyes Abdul Wahid.

Abdul Khalid later held open house at the square of the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah building.

In Penang , Yang Dipertua Negeri Abdul Rahman Abbas and his wife, Majimor Shariff, performed Aidilfitri prayers at the State Mosque in George Town.

Former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his wife, Jeanne Abdullah, celebrated Aidilfitri in Abdullah's hometown in Kepala Batas.

In Perak , the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah, performed Aidilfitri prayers along with more than 2,000 people at the Ubudiah Mosque in Kuala Kangsar.

The Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah; the Raja Dihilir of Perak, Raja Jaafar Raja Muda Musa; members of the royal household and Perak Menteri Besar Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir also performed prayers at the mosque.

Dr Zambry then held open house at the menteri besar's official residence in Ipoh.

In Sarawak , Yang Dipertua Negeri Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng performed Aidilfitri prayers at the Jamek Mosque in Petra Jaya, along with about 5,000 people.

Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud, Tourism and Heritage Minister Amar Abang Johari Openg and State Assembly speaker Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar were among the dignitaries who also performed prayers there.

 

Abang Muhammad Salahuddin hosted open house at the Astana in Petra Jaya while Taib and state cabinet ministers held open house at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK).

After performing Aidilfitri prayers at the Jamek Al-Jamiul Badawi Mosque, Abdullah and Jeanne visited the graves of Abdullah's parents, Kailan Hasan and Ahmad Badawi Abdullah.

They hosted Aidilfitri open house at the Budi Penyayang complex in Kepala Batas.

In Kedah , the Sultan of Kedah, Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah, performed Aidilfitri prayers at the Zahir Mosque in Alor Setar, along with thousands of people. Also present were state executive councillors and state secretary Rasli Basir. The sultan hosted open house at Istana Anak Bukit.

In Pahang , the Tengku Mahkota of Pahang, Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, performed Aidilfitri prayers along with about 4,000 people at the Sultan Ahmad 1 Mosque in Kuantan.

Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob hosted Aidilfitri open house at the Sultan Ahmad Shah Silver Jubilee Hall in Kuantan. 

In Kelantan , the Sultan of Kelantan, Sultan Muhammad V, performed Aidilfitri prayers along with thousands of people at the Muhammadi Mosque in Kota Baharu.

The "khutbah" (sermon) was delivered by the Mufti of Kelantan, Mohamad Shukri Mohamad.

The sultan then visited the Langgar Royal Mausoleum and hosted Aidilfitri open house at the Istana Negeri in Kubang Kerian.

Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat led Aidilfitri prayers at the Pulau Melaka Mosque and then hosted open house.

International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed is scheduled to hold Aidilfitri open house at his residence, Darul Falah, in Jeli on the third day of Aidilfitri and Deputy Finance Minister Dr Awang Adek Hussin in Kampung Perupok, Bachok, on the fourth day.

[More to follow]