Srinagar: The restrictions on the movement and assembly of people to contain the spread of the coronavirus continued in Kashmir for the ninth day on Friday as most mosques and shrines were shut to avoid large gatherings for congregational Friday prayers.
Most of the religious leaders in Kashmir had asked the people to skip Friday congregational prayers and instead offer the Zuhar prayers at their respective homes.
The administration too had issued the identical guidelines to ensure that there is no assembly of people anywhere that would kill the basic spirit of lockdown that is aimed at stopping the spread of deadly coronavirus.
Most of the mosques and shrines across the valley, including those in the summer capital here, were closed on the appeal of the administration and religious leaders to avoid large gatherings for congregational prayers on Friday, officials said.
Meanwhile, in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus, Jammu and Kashmir administration on Friday directed all deputy commissioners and superintendents of police to caution religious leaders against holding any congregation.
“DCs and SPs advised to strictly caution all religious leaders NOT to call any gatherings. Public gatherings a major source of social contact and spread of the virus,” government spokesperson Rohit Kansal said in a tweet.
While the religious leaders and clergy have asked people in Kashmir not to congregate for Friday prayers at mosques and pray at home home, the administration in Srinagar and some other districts have closed places of worship for the time being.
Coronavirus: Jamiat urges Muslims to pray at home
New Delhi, Mar 27 (PTI) Prominent Muslim body Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind on Friday appealed to Muslims to offer prayers at home instead of congregating in mosques amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Jamiat President Maulana Arshad Madani said he himself is offering prayer at home.
For daily prayers, he said Muslims should pray at home, instead of congregating in mosques.
Muslims are supposed to pray five times in a day at designated hours of the day.
“All people must avoid gatherings at any place, and follow the Shariah guidelines for the protection of human life,” he said.
Earlier in the day, he said in the light of government directives issued regarding coronavirus, he would advise that people must avoid gathering in mosques on Friday as well and offer prayers at home.
“Only Imam, muezzin and three persons should offer Jumah prayers at mosque so that obligation can be fulfilled. It is our religious and social responsibility to protect ourselves and others from this harm,” Madani said in a statement.
Madani lauded the community for adhering to appeals of clerics and offering the Friday prayers at home. He said it was praiseworthy that only 3-4 people, including imam and muezzin, prayed at mosques while others prayed at home.
