Emotional scenes witnessed, people demand immediate release of Mirwaiz
Srinagar, Aug 18: The central Jamia Masjid Srinagar was thrown open on Tuesday for prayers after 150 days of lockdown due to coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The devotees offered Zuhr (afternoon) prayers in the Masjid for the first time after the religious places were thrown open by the administration.
The decision by Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid was taken while upholding the views of Shariah experts and following the guidelines issued by the medical bodies regarding the outbreak.
For the convenience of those coming for prayers, the Auqaf Jamia Masjid as per a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) had put in place all the SOPs and other preventive measures including providing free masks and keeping the sanitisers inside the grand masjid and putting up posters of guidelines to be followed.
As soon as the call for prayers (Azaan) was given, people started rushing towards the Jama Masjid and with extreme devotion and humbleness began kissing the doors and wooden columns of the grand masjid. It was a scene filled with emotions and rejuvenated the faith of the believers.
Hundreds of men and women offered the congregational Zuhr prayers while maintaining social distance. They prayed to Almighty Allah to grant refuge to the people of Kashmir, Muslim Ummah and entire humanity from the deadly outbreak of coronavirus (Covid-19) and all other sufferings and hardships.
The management of the Jama Masjid and the people interacted with several media-persons present on the occasion and demanded immediate release of the Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid Chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq who continues to be under arbitrary house arrest for more than a year now, so that the Mirwaiz resumes the centuries-old tradition of his forefathers – the Mirwaizeen – of addressing the people from the pulpit of the Jamia Masjid.
The Mirwaizeen have been giving sermons at the Jamia Masjid since centuries invoking the message of Qaal Allah Wa Qaal A Rasool Ullah (SAW), calling for human welfare, love, harmony, brotherhood and unity; and the release of Mirwaiz is inevitable so that he resumes his duty and responsibility.
On the occasion, the people also expressed strong anger and resentment over the blasphemous remarks against the beloved Prophet of Islam Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (SAW) made by some miscreants and communal zealots in Jammu region, and demanded stringent punishment to the culprits.
Meanwhile, according to the Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid, along with the daily prayers, the congregational Friday prayers will also resume at Jama Masjid with all SOPs and other preventive measures in place—(KNO)
