Srinagar: Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid on Saturday expressed strong resentment against the administration for disallowing the Eid prayer at the historic Jamia Masjid for the 4th consecutive year.
“Anjuman said that police and civil authorities informed them late Friday evening that Eid prayers would only be allowed at Jama Masjid Srinagar if held before 7.30 am, which was not possible for the Anjuman as it had already given the programme of offering Eid prayer at 09:00 am as people from far-flung areas come to offer Eid prayer at the Jamia Masjid Srinagar,” the Anjuman spokesman said in a statement.
The Auqaf said that Jamia Masjid is a central place of congregational prayers in the valley. The purpose of such central places of worship is to provide a space and opportunity to Muslims so that they can pray together in large numbers on Fridays and other religious occasions, and experience the physical and spiritual communion as an ummah.
“To facilitate people from across the valley to reach these central places, prayers timings are decided accordingly and like in Dargah Hazratbal prayers timings by the Waqf Board has been set at 10.30 am, Anjuman Auqaf had also announced prayers at 9:00 am. It is strange that if congregational prayers can be allowed at other places at 10:30 am, why not at Jamia Masjid, why unreasonable conditions are being applied here?,” the Anjuman asked.
The Auqaf said that it fails to understand why the grand occasions of Shab-e-Qadr and Jummat-ul-Vida were performed by a large number of people in Jama Masjid in a pleasant and peaceful atmosphere, and why were the Eid prayers barred.
“Anjuman Auqaf deeply regrets this approach of the authorities causing great hurt and sorrow to the Muslims of JK, as does the prolonged detention of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq since august 2019, who would deliver the soul rendering Eid sermon prior to congregational Eid prayers,” the Anjuman said.
