Jammu & Kashmir
‘Today’s fast against shariah’: Jammu Muslim scholars seek legal action against those who spread confusion over crescent sighting
Jammu: As people in Kashmir began their fasting on Thursday with the rest of the Indian Muslim population including Jammu residents starting tomorrow, a group of Muslim scholars from Jammu including Mufti Islam and Mufti Nazir have sought “shariah and legal action” against those who spread “anarchy and confusion” among the masses regarding the crescent sighting.
On Wednesday, amid confusion over the commencement of Ramzan, announcements about the starting of the holy month were made in mosques across Kashmir.
Taraweeh prayers were started soon after the announcements. However, the Grand Mufti of JK, Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam stated that the crescent wasn’t sighted from any territory across JK.
The announcements in Kashmir were made after the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee of Pakistan chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad confirmed the crescent wasn’t sighting during a press conference in Peshawar.
Addressing the press conference, Maulana Azad said that the committee received moon-sighting testimonies from a number of places in the country, including Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Swabi, Qila Saifullah, and Mardan.
Saudi Arabia and most other Gulf states will also start the fasting month on Thursday (tomorrow). However, the Ramadan moon was not sighted in India and Bangladesh.
The Srinagar police in a Tweet on Wednesday said, “SSP Srinagar and all ranks of Srinagar District Police extend wishes that this holy month of Ramzan may usher an era of peace, brotherhood and may also bring prosperity in lives of one & all.”
“Those who started fasting today have gone against the principles of Shariah. Strict legal and Shariah action must be taken against those who spread the confusion,” the scholars said, adding, this is the first time that people in Jammu and Kashmir are starting the holy month on different dates.