Celestial treat for citizens, residents in UAE

Our Correspondent
DUBAI
Citizens and residents of the UAE were in for a celestial treat when a partial annular eclipse, commonly known as a solar eclipse, happened on June 21. It commenced at 8.14 am when the moon began moving in front of the sun, and was over by 11.12 am.
Annular eclipses occur when the Moon – passing between Earth and the Sun – is not quite close enough to our planet to completely obscure sunlight, leaving a thin ring of the solar disc visible.
The solar eclipse also coincides with the official start of the summer.
the General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments had, on June 20, urged Muslims to perform the eclipse prayer at home in accordance with the precautionary measures taken in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic. It explained that the prayer begins and ends with the eclipse, namely when the sun is at a spear’s height above the horizon and continues until noon.
“Man can perform it at home or wherever he is singly or accompanied by his family; women can likewise perform it at home singly,” said the Authority, affirming that it’s not permissible under the current circumstances to congregate and perform the prayer collectively in jama’ah at home, mosques or workplaces or anywhere else.
With agency inputs