Srinagar, May 01: Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid said that police and civil authorities called them yesterday to convey that Eid prayers will not be allowed at Eid Gah Srinagar and would only be allowed at Jamia Masjid if held before 7 am.

According to a statement, as per the precedent, Anjum Auqaf had earlier in the day announced that Eid prayers will be held at Eid gah at 9:30 am and in case of inclement weather at Jama Masjid Srinagar at that time.

The statement reads that Auqaf members expressed great dismay that after disallowing Muslims of the valley to pray at Jamia Masjid on Jumat-ul- vida and Shab- e-Qadr, authorities are now not allowing Muslims to offer Eid prayers in the open at Eid Gah, which is in tradition of the Prophets sunnah.

“In this case, a reply was also received yesterday by the Anjuman to a letter they had sent to Waqf board regarding Eid prayer arrangements at Eidgah. The reply by the Wafq board conveyed that they could not facilitate prayer arrangements unless authorities give permission to conduct prayers at Eidgah”

Anjuman said that Jama Masjid is a central place of congregational prayers in the valley and not some local masjid and 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 physical and spiritual communion as an ummah.

“To facilitate people from across the valley to reach these central places, prayer timings are decided accordingly and like in Dargah Hazratbal prayer timing by the waqf board has been set at 10.30 am, Anjuman Auqaf had also announced prayers at 9:30 am. It is strange that if congregational prayers can be allowed at other places at 10:30 am, why not at Jama Masjid, why unreasonable conditions of giving this and that in writing, have to be applied here? Sadly it seems that as in case of Jumat-ul-vida and Shab-e-Qadr authorities do not want Eid prayers to held even at Jama Masjid after disallowing them at Eidgah.”

Anjuman Auqaf said that it deeply regrets this approach of the authorities, when again Eid prayers are not being allowed at Eidgah as well as Jama Masjid, causing great hurt and sorrow to the Muslims of J&K, as does the prolonged detention of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.