Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, Mar 4: After remaining shut for over 30 weeks, historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar was today thrown open for the devotees on the occasion of Friday following Meraj-e-Alam while emotional scenes were witnessed as people thronged the mosque after a long gap.
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In this regard, the Jamia Auqaf said that the Friday prayers were finally allowed at the Jamia Masjid by the authorities, in which, it said, hundreds of people participated while as the Friday congregational prayers were led by Imam-e-Hai, Syed Ahmed Naqshbandi who also delivered the Friday sermon.
For the smooth conduct of the prayers, the Auqaf said, detailed arrangements were already put in place which included measures for the adherence of the SOPs because of COVID.
Earlier, the officers from civil administration as well higher officials of police had visited the Jamia Masjid where they met the office bearers of the Jamia Auqaf. It was told after the visit of the officials that the administration will allow the conduct of Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid and the preparations for the same were started.
Auqaf said that while the prayers were led by the Imam-e-Hai, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq continues to remain under “house arrest” and that he could not make it Jamia on the occasion.
On the day, people from various parts of Srinagar city were seen reaching Jamia Masjid even as emotions ran high as the faithful gathered inside Jamia Masjid.
As the day coincided with the Friday following, Meraj-e-Alam, there was higher participation of people witnessed which included men, women as well as children.
People who had reached the Jamia said that they were disheartened by the fact that the mosque was kept closed due to COVID while several other mosques and shrines were allowed to remain open. However, they said, they were happy that they were able to make it to Jamia on Friday.
“We cannot express our joy and happiness today; it has happened due to the grace of Almighty who has made it possible for us to assemble here,” said one Bashir Ahmad who had reached Jamia from an adjoining area.
While the people were happy, they said that every Friday they had to return home after seeing doors of Jamia shut and locked.
“I used to reach here every Friday, but had to return every time after seeing doors shut; then I used to go some other place to offer prayers; you know, there are emotions associated with the place, and that sight was painful,” said of the women who had reached Jamia along with her 2 kids.
As people were thronging Jamia from nearby areas, at the same time, some families had reached Srinagar after travelling over 80 kilometres from north Kashmir.
“I heard yesterday that the Jamia will be thrown open for Friday prayers; we made a plan of offering Friday here. It is really a moment of joy and people should not have been deprived of it; now that Friday prayers have been allowed, we hope it will continue,” Ghulam Qadir said.
Meanwhile, Jamia Auqaf said that the people were very disappointed with the absence of Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Muhammad Umar Farooq, “who continues to be under illegal and arbitrary detention since 5 August 2019.”
In his speech after the sermon, Imam Hai said that repeated ban on Friday prayers at the grand mosque without any reason “is a cause of anxiety and restlessness among people,”
He said that by keeping Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house arrest for the last two-and-a-half years, the Jamia pulpit has been rendered silent, causing hurt and sorrow to people while urging the administration to release Mirwaiz.
People on the occasion also demanded the release of Mirwaiz and said that they were hopeful that the administration will fulfil that.
Meanwhile, Friday following Meraj-e-Alam was observed across Kashmir with religious fervour while as largest gathering on the occasion was witnessed at Dargah Hazratbal.
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