Srinagar: In the light of Islamic teachings and as is a precedent in Islamic history during such times , Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid has urged people to offer namaz at home, as the corona virus pandemic is spreading fast. The Anjuman has already suspended all congregational prayers at Jamia Masjid in old city here for the time being.
In a statement the Auqaf said as the world battles Covid 19, Muslim communities around the globe like others, are also carefully considering how best to continue with our religious activities, while trying to minimise the spread of the coronavirus. With the increasing rate of transmission, the number of deaths, and limited medical facilities available, all Islamic scholarly and medical advice points towards the curtailment of social contact as the key towards reducing the spread.
Hence, it is our public duty as Muslims to protect one another from harm, and it is evident the most effective way to do this now is to avoid social contact as much as possible. This includes in all walks of life, whether social, work or the mosques. It has become imperative that this extraordinary step is taken to ensure the safety and well being of all as is being done in many Muslim countries.
Anjum Auqaf on behalf of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who continues to be under house arrest , urgently requests people to undertake these measures needed in such unprecedented times and put our trust in Allah and his mercy and pray for the safety and protection of mankind in this grave crisis.
‘Form committees to help poor, destitute’
Meawnhile, Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema, an amalgam of various religious bodies in Kashmir and Anjuman-e-Auqaaf Jamia Masjid on Tuesday urged people across Kashmir to form mohalla committees and to collect Baitul Mall(charity) for helping poor and destitute in the present challenging times.
The MMU and Auqaf urged people to form small groups of youth volunteers in every area who would identify the families who are in dire need of food and other essential commodities.
A spokesman of Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU) told KNO the lock-down imposed by the government in a bid to prevent spread of pandemic Covid-19 has triggered a crisis in Kashmir as a large chunk of people including labourers, orphans, widows and other downtrodden people are in a dire need of monetary support and other essential things needed to survive.
“We request people across the Valley to form small groups of youth volunteers under the patronage of area/village elders to identify the needy and help them by raising Baitul-Maal on daily basis,” he said.
Similar views were expressed by the spokesman of Anjuman-e-Auqaaf Jamia Masjid Srinagar who stated that in the present challenging times, there is a need of taking care of poor and needy. ” In Kashmir there are hundreds of families who are in need and may be on the verge of starvation.
