Srinagar, Mar 20: Kashmir continued to be under a virtual lockdown for the second day on Friday as authorities imposed restrictions across all districts to contain the spread of coronavirus in the valley, which has recorded one positive case, officials said.
Meanwhile, Friday prayers in the valley were observed in almost all the mosques although the attendance of people was thinner than usual.
At many places, Imams went ahead with short sermons and prayers with many offering only the mandatory Fardh prayers in the mosques and leaving soon to pray the rest in homes.
Earlier in the day, Moulana Rahmatullah Qasimi, patron of Kashmir largest Islamic seminary, Darul-Uloom Rahimiya said that it was not feasible to completely shut mosques on Fridays and instead urged Imams to restrict Friday sermons and to conclude two rakat prayers within shortest possible time.
He also urged Imams to hold special prayers to see refuge from Almighty Allah from deadly diseases including Covid-19.
Moulana Rahmatullah said that all diseases are from Allah and their remedies too are from Allah. “It’s time we hold special prayers at our homes recite special verses (Ismi Azam and Darood-e-Najat) at our homes frequently and repent on our sins and seek Allah’s refuge as he is the one who cures all diseases,” he said.
He said that Nawfils and Sunah prayers should be offered at homes and people should also maintain hygiene and perform ablution at their homes. Pertinently, Jamait-e-Ahlihadith has decided not to organize Friday prayers at their affiliated masjids in Kashmir for a time being while as Kashmir’s Grand Mufti Nasirul Islam has convened a crucial meeting on the issue at his Soura residence on Saturday.
