SRINAGAR: After around two years congregational prayers were offered on Friday in Srinagar’s historic Jamia Masjid.
Eyewitnesses said that people were seen following Covid-appropriate behaviour while offering prayers after a gap of around two years.
Top security arrangements were made by the authorities to maintain law and order in the area, officials said
They said that a large number of security personals were deployed to ensure security in the area as the first congregational prayer inside the mosque.
Pertinently a day before a suspected IED blast was reported outside a mosque in Nowhatta Srinagar.
Eyewitnesses added that after long time women were also seen offering prayers.
Notably Jamia Auqaf hae announced that Friday prayers will be held this week since Covid cases have slowed down and prayers were now being held in all central mosques, khanqahs, shrines and Imambaras of Jammu and Kashmir.
However, they said that the devotees have to follow the guidelines of medical experts and strictly adhere to Covid standard operating protocols during the Friday and other daily prayers.
Pertinently first Friday prayer was offered in December 2019 after the abrogation of article 370 .
However, with the beginning of Covid-19, Friday prayers were were not held at the Jamia till cases declined in first wase and few Friday prayers were later offered too, however, with the emergence of second wave, Friday prayers were not held again.
Meanwhile Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid in a press statement said that after almost four months, congregational Friday players were resumed at Jama Masjid today. The prayers had been suspended due to the rise in covid 19 pandemic .
They said that all arrangements were made by the Auqaf to ensure Covid SOPs were in place and were observed by all who offered prayers at the Masjid.
They added that President Anjumam Auqaf Jama Masjid and Mirwaiz e Kashmir Mohamad Umar Farooq was not allowed to move out of his home for the Jumma majlis waz-o-tableegh (Friday Sermon) and offering of Friday prayers at the Jama Masjid. Mirwaiz continues to be under house detention for the past two years, since August 2019.
On this occasion Imam Hai Moulana Syed Ahmed Naqshband in his address thanked Almighty Allah that prayers had been resumed at Jama Masjid, with all covid protocols in place, but lamented that since the past two years Mirwaiz e kashmir has been arbitrarily detained at his house by the state authorities, and is not even allowed to visit Jama Masjid to deliver the Friday sermon- which people are longing to hear and participate in. This is causing people great hurt and anguish .
It is the centuries old tradition of Mirwaizeen-e-kashmir who delivers the unique Friday sermon from the pulpit of the Jama Masjid. (PTK)
