Srinagar, Mar 4 (KNS): After remaining closed for 49 Fridays since last year, authorities today finally allowed Friday prayers at the historic Central Jama Masjid Srinagar after 30 consecutive weeks. 

 

In a statement, issued to Kashmir News Service (KNS), Anjuman Auqaf said that when the Azaan (call for prayer) echoed from the minarets of the Jama Masjid, a large number of men and women gathered in the premises to offer Friday prayers in spite of severe cold. 

 

The statement reads that emotional scenes were witnessed, with the worshippers prostrating before Allah and expressing their joy and happiness to be able to offfer Friday prayers at the mosque.

 

“The administration’s restrictions on Friday prayers in the mosque for most part of the last two-and-a-half years had deeply pained the muslims of the region.” 

 

It reads that, however, the people were very disappointed with the absence of Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Muhammad Umar Farooq, who continues to be under detention since 5 August 2019. “As a centuries-old tradition, the Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir delivers Friday sermons at Jama Masjid. His two-and-a-half-year detention has agonised the people who throng the grand mosque from nook and corner of the Valley.”

 

It reads that calls to release the Mirwaiz keep growing with each passing day, however, the administration is unrelenting.

 

Meanwhile, the Imam and Khateeb of the Jama Masjid and octogenarian religious scholar Imam Hai Moulana Ahmad Syed Naqshbandi delivered the Friday sermon today. 

 

Later in his speech, he emphasised that the repeated ban on Friday prayers at the grand mosque without any reason is a cause of anxiety and restlessness among the people and violation of their fundamental human right to practice religion.

 

Imam Hai said that this central place of worship with its mimbar-o-mihrab has been witness to Mirwaizeen-e-Kashmir preaching Islam and its message of human brotherhood, love and tolerance , for centuries.

 

However, by keeping the present Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr. Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq under continued house arrest for the last two-and-a-half years, this pulpit has been rendered silent, causing hurt and sorrow to the people. 

 

Imam Hai asked the administration to release Mirwaiz Umar Farooq immediately as the holy month of Ramadan was approaching people are keenly waiting to hear waz-o-tableeg from their Mirwaiz. (KNS)