SRINAGAR: The historic Jamia Masjid Srinagar has been closed ahead of the Shab-e-Qadr as authorities have disallowed nigh-long prayers in the Masjid, Anjuman Auqaf said on Saturday.

Auqaf said that following Asr prayers, the authorities closed the gates of Jama Masjid while the police asked people to vacate the mosque premises, as per stateennt issued to KNS.

The statement reads that the Auqaf was informed that the observance of Taraweeh or Shab Khani on the auspicious occasion of Shab-e-Qadr will not be permitted.

Meanwhile, its said Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was again placed under house arrest earlier this afternoon.

Auqaf expressed disappointment over the decision of the authorities and strongly condemned this repressive measure.

SRINAGAR: Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has been put under house arrest by the authorities on Friday, Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid said in a statement.

Additionally, authorities have closed the historic Jamia Masjid, a significant religious center, on this last Friday of Ramadan.

The actions, implemented by the administration, have been confirmed by Anjuman Auqaf.

Mirwaiz was released from house detention in September last year, more than four years after he was placed under house arrest in the wake of abrogation of Article 370 by GoI in August 2019.

The authorities again placed curbs on his movement in the first week of October and prevented him from attending any religious gatherings, including Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid.

The Mirwaiz was again allowed to attend Friday prayers and other religious congregations a week ahead of the Ramzan fasting month.

SRINAGAR: Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid on Thursday said that Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has been placed under house arrest.

“The Mirwaiz has been put under house arrest by the authorities ahead of his sermon that he was scheduled to deliver at Aali Masjid in the city today,” Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid said in a statement.

However, officials here refused to comment on the claim of Mirwaiz’s house arrest, as reported by PTI.

The Mirwaiz was released from house detention in September last year — more than four years after he was placed under house arrest in the wake of abrogation of Article 370 by the government of India in August 2019.

The authorities again placed curbs on his movement in the first week of October and prevented him from attending any religious gatherings, including Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid.

The Mirwaiz was again allowed to attend Friday prayers and other religious congregations a week ahead of the Ramzan fasting month.

Srinagar: Incumbent Hurriyat Chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq will lead Friday prayers at historic Jamia Masjid Nowhatta Srinagar after a gap of four years, official sources said.

They told GNS that the administration has taken the decision after due consultation with different law enforcement agencies. 

Notably, Mirwaiz was placed under house arrest on August 4, 2019 when the Government of India revoked Article 370 and 35A besides the State was bifurcated and downgraded to two Union Territories - J&K and Ladakh. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid Srinagar on Thrusday announced that due to inclement weather and water logging at historic Eidgah Srinagar , Eid-ul-Fitr prayer will be held at 9:00 at Jama Masjid Srinagar, instead of Eidgah Srinagar.

In a handout to GNS, the  Anjuman Auqaf urged Muslims to pay Sadaqah Fitr, which is fixed at Rs 65 per person, before Eid prayer so that deserving people also join Eid festivities .

The Anjuman once again strongly demanded unconditional release of its detained head Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq before Eid, reads the statement.(GNS)

SRINAGAR: Laylat-ul-Qadr or Shab-e-Qadr - the night of power and blessings - was observed across Kashmir valley with religious fervour and gaiety on intervening Monday and Tuesday night. 

As per common belief of followers of Islam, the night, when the Holy Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) from Allah, is considered to be equal to praying for 1000 months. This is one of the holiest and most blessed nights, which is likely to occur on one of the odd nights in the last 10 days of Ramzan and most likely to be the 27th of the holy month, during which Muslims spend the whole night attending the religious gatherings and praying all night till dawn.

As part of the festivities, Muslims thronged mosques and shrines across the valley for prayers and recitation of the holy Quran. 

Scores of devout Muslims, as per GNS, gathered at Hazratbal and other mosques and shrines across the valley, including at the Dast-e-Geer Sahib and Sayed Yaqoob Shah shrines here to offer special prayers.

Congregational night prayers were allowed by authorities at historic Jamia Masjid Nowhatta albeit after a hiatus of almost four years. A huge gathering was witnessed at the mosque, who remained engrossed in supplications and recitals of the holy Quran throughout the night. 

The nightlong prayers were also held at other mosques and shrines in Srinagar including at Masjid Jamiat-e-Ahle Hadith Gawkadal; Asar-e-Sharif Janab Sahib Soura; Asar-e-Sharif Shehri Kalashpora; Ziarat-e-Makhdoom Sahib (RA), Khanqah-e-Maula.

District administration Srinagar had put in place special arrangements while control rooms were also established at Dargah Hazratbal shrine and other places to redress grievances or complaints of devotees.

In north Kashmir, the prayers were held at Jamia Masjid Bandipora, Jamia Masjid Baramulla, Jamia Masjid Kupwara, Masjid ul Murshideen Bumhama, Jamia Masjid Handwara and other local mosques alike.

In south Kashmir, prayers were held at Jamia Masjid Hanfia, Jamia Masjid Ahle Hadith, Bait-ul-Mukarram and Rehat-Ded Masjid in Anantnag town. The prayers were also offered in Ziarat-e-Sharief Khiram Kund, Aishmuqam and Bijbehara areas of the south Kashmir district.

In Kulgam, the biggest nightlong prayer gathering was seen in Jamia Masjid. Large congregational prayer gatherings were also witnessed in Khankah Tral, Jamia Masjid Shopian and Jamia Masjid Pulwama.

The preachers and religious scholars highlighted the teachings of Islam and various aspects of the life of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and urged Muslims to follow the principles and tenets of Islam. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: For the 3rd time, the historic Jamia Masjid here remained closed today on the occasion of ‘Jummat-ul-Vida’, last Friday of Muslim fasting month of Ramazan as authorities decided not to allow Jumat-ul-Vida prayers.

Except for Jamia Masjid prayers were held in rest of Kashmir to mark Jummat-ul-Vida with religious fervor and gaiety.

At Hazratbal shrine, thousands of devotees joined the congregational Friday prayers. The J&K Wakf Board, which controls the shrine management, had made arrangements for the devotees who were seen thronging the religious place since early Friday morning.

The congregational prayers were also held at all mosques and shrines in Srinagar including Masjid Jamiat-e-Ahlehadith, Gawkadal; Asar-e-Sharif, Janab Sahib Soura; Asar-e-Sharif Shehri Kalashpora; Ziarat-e-Makhdoom Sahib, Khanqah-e-Mualla, and different Imambaras.

In South Kashmir, people in large numbers offered Jumat-ul-Vida congregational prayers at Jamia Masjid Hanfia, Jamia Masjid Ahlihadith, Bait-ul-Muqaram and Rehat-Ded Masjid in Islamabad (Anantnag) town. Congregational prayers were also offered in Ziarat-e-Sharief Khiram Kabamarg; Kund, Aishmuqam and Bijbehara areas of the district.

In Kulgam, the biggest prayer gathering was seen in Jamia Masjid. Large congregational prayer gathering was also witnessed in Khankah Tral, Jamia Masjid Shopian and Jamia Masjid Pulwama.

Thousands of Muslims also offered Jumat-ul-Vida prayers in all other districts of the UT.

Meanwhile, Devotees said that it is for the 3rd time in the living memory of people that they are being barred from offering Juma-tul-vida prayers at Jamia Masjid.

They added that for the whole year Muslims of the Valley keep waiting to offer prayers in Jamia Masjid on this most important last Friday of the holiest month of Ramadan to earn reward and seek forgiveness of their almighty. And even that right has been snatched from us by “authorities”.

Sumaira Nazir  usually offered Jumat-ul-Vida prayers at Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid. “On this day I used to go early in the morning so that I could offer my salah inside the masjid. When sometimes the Jummah prayers were not allowed in the masjid, then I visited Bazar masjid. But this year despite normalcy i am not able to offer prayers in Jamia masjid due to reasons better known to authorities only ,” she said.

Similarly, Srinagar resident Mushtaq Ahmad said, “ We were hopeful that this Jumat-ul-Vida, we will be able to offer congregational prayers in Jamia but nothing such happened.”(CNS)

SRINAGAR: The managing body of the Jama Masjid here on Friday said that the authorities have disallowed “Jummat-ul-vida” congregational prayers at the historic mosque.

“District magistrate and police officials visited jama Masjid in the morning at 9.30 am and asked the management to lock the gates of the Masjid as administration had decided that jummat-ul-vida prayers will not be allowed at the Masjid,” Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid said in a statement to GNS. 

“Anjuman strongly resents this move of the authorities causing great distress to lakhs of Muslims who traditionally come from all parts of the valley to offer prayers on the last and greatly blessed Friday of Ramzan in Jamia Masjid where offering prayers on last Friday has great significance,” the statement added. (GNS)