SRINAGAR : People here in the valley offered the ‘Jummah Namaz’ or the Friday special prayer at their homes to curb the spread of Covid-19 virus.
The government and the Islamic religious bodies in Kashmir had issued an advisory to pray at home to avoid large gatherings.
“No clerics perform ‘Khutbah’ (public preaching) on microphones from the mosques, instead people read verses from Quran at their homes before Friday prayers,” a preacher wished not to be named told Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).
The government had said that it is advisable that people offer prayers at home till the situation is under control.
Shabir Ahmad, a resident of Bemina in the Srinagar city, offered prayers along with his son, Asim Atif and his father. “Offering Friday prayer at home was a different experience for us. But because of the advice on social distancing, we offered the prayers at home. My father led the prayer and gave us a few lessons from the verses of Quran,” Shabir Ahmad told this KINS reporter.
“We usually go to the nearby mosque at 12.30pm for the khutbah, which continues for half- an-hour after which the prayer service begins at 1pm. I really missed the public preaching because we learn a lot from it,” said Khalid, a resident of Padshaibagh.
Iqbal Ahmad a resident of Baramullah said, “The most important duty for a Muslim is to offer namaz. This time we missed the “ nimaz with Jamat. I prayed for things to get better soon.”
Sources said that at the historic Jamia Masjid, where a few thousand pious attend the Friday prayers every week, only a few were seen on Friday.
Sources said that many managing committees of the mosques across the valley locked out gates, in a way declaring that there would be no prayers there.
Sources told KINS that several mosques which would be seen crowded during Friday prayers were seen deserted today.
They included Jamia Masjid Srinagar, Dargah Hazratbal, Iqra Masjid, Gousia Masjid, Hyder Masjit, Rehmat Masid.
Last Friday many mosques across the valley had also suspended the Friday prayers. “Notices were put up outside the mosques announcing the same to the devotees. Restrictions were also placed on the number of people attending regular prayers at the mosques”
In order to stop spread of the Covid- 19, the administration had formally ordered the closure of all religious institutions and appealed to the management committees of all places of worship and all residents to cooperate. (KINS)
