‘No congregational Taraweeh prayers in Masjids, grand Iftar parties’
Al-Misda Masoom
Srinagar, Apr 20: In a first, Kashmiris will observe the holy month of Ramadan without offering congregational prayers in Masjids and will remain confined to their homes due to Covid-19 lockdown.
Kashmiris would observe the month of Ramadan as more of a festival as fasting also would involve thronging markets for shopping and attending gala Iftaar parties.
But this time around, it’s mostly like to happen as people are under lockdown due to the spread of Covid-19 which has brought even most developed countries on its knees.
It will be for the first time in the Kashmir’s history that people will have to remain confined to their homes even in the month of Ramadan. Congregational Taraweeh prayers have also been cancelled in of Covid-19 threat across major Muslim countries including Saudi Arabia.
Entry of devotees has also been restricted in Holy Kaaba only to prevent the spread of Covid-19. In Kashmir too Muslims will be observing the holy month of Ramadhan by staying inside their homes and the Ulemas have also advised people to offer obligatory Taraweeh prayers in their homes till the spread of Covid-19 is contained.
Kashmir has seen series of lockdowns in its long conflicting history but no would stop people from offering Taraweeh and other congregational prayers in Masjids but this time the lockdown is different.
“We are so unlucky that were won’t be able to pray Taraweeh prayers in masjids this Ramadan,” said Inayat Rashid, a student a Darul Uloom Shah-e-Hamdaan, Pampore.
If the lockdown continues even after May 3, there is every likelihood that people will not be allowed to observe Shab-i-Qadr in local Masjids and major shrines across the valley.
“I am not sure that I will be able to get even the basic things like dates for Iftar as there is threat and everyone fears for his life. Markets are closed and people are confined to their homes due to Covid-19 pandemic. This time Ramadan would be different,” said a local resident of Srinagar.
