Srinagar, Apr 22: Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid expressed strong resentment against the administration for disallowing the Eid prayer at the historic Jama Masjid today 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 program of offering Eid prayer at 09:00 AM as people from far-flung areas come to offer Eid prayer at the Jama Masjid Srinagar.

Anjuman Auqaf said that Jama Masjid is a central place of congregational prayers in the valley and not some local masjid. 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 place , 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 Jama Masjid, why unreasonable conditions are being applied here?

The Auqaf said that it fails to understand while 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, why were the Eid prayers barred?

Anjuman Auqaf deeply regrets this approach of the authorities causing great hurt and sorrow to the Muslims of J&K , 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. [KNT]