Over the weekend, millions of Muslims across the world celebrated Eid – the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
But how could Muslim communities come together to pray while still maintaining social distancing rules during the current coronavirus pandemic?
One mosque in Germany had the ingenious idea to ask their local IKEA if they could use their car park and the furniture store in Wetzlar agreed.
An aerial shot of the car park captured the incredible moment:
Eid Mubarak all✨ Especially to this Ikea branch in Germany. Local Muslims asked if they can use the car park for… https://t.co/7zTSPc4a29— Abdirahim Saeed (@Abdirahim Saeed) 1590334476
In a statement thanking the IKEA store, mosque IGMG Wetzlar FATIH CAMII said:
We would like to thank the Wetzlar police, the Wetzlar public order office, Ikea Wetzlar management, brothers, and all who contributed to making this extraordinary holiday prayer possible.
People on social media couldn’t get over how incredible it all looked:
@AbdirahimS @MarwaBalkar What a beautiful and uplifting photo. Not just for the devotion and discipline, but also f… https://t.co/jHPAuKXd9C— ƙʝ 🖤 (@ƙʝ 🖤) 1590374885
@AbdirahimS @gabpdx I am not Muslim. I am not Christian. I am not Buddhist. Regardless of my lack of belief/faith i… https://t.co/B2pGAWuTa7— Sundaze are for pickin rocks 🏳️🌈🧶🖕🏻⚽️ (@Sundaze are for pickin rocks 🏳️🌈🧶🖕🏻⚽️) 1590445855
@AbdirahimS Masha Allah what a gorgeous sight...Bless✋— Omar Billow (@Omar Billow) 1590383804
This is so cool https://t.co/okwzFuU5WB— Rami Ismail (رامي) (@Rami Ismail (رامي)) 1590425688
Then the jokes started:
@JessicadRedding @AbdirahimS Cov-eid— Zain (@Zain) 1590407750
Big up IKEA Even the Mosques are DIY. https://t.co/kGAFp09i9q— Asim Chaudhry (@Asim Chaudhry) 1590420102
To date, Germany has over 180,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and sadly 8,428 people have died.