Srinagar: The congregational Friday prayers would be held at historic Jamia Masjid on August 6 after remaining suspended for about three months due to COVID-19 pandemic.
The prayers were suspended by Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid (AAJM), headed by Mirwiaz Moulvi Omar Farooq, shortly before the start of holy fasting month of Ramzan to prevent further spread of COVID-19.
Mirwaiz will complete two years of house arrest on August 5.
A spokesman for the AAJM on Wednesday afternoon said the cleaning of central grand mosque was carried out today as the worship place remained closed for about three months.
He said that since the Covid positive cases have slowed down, Friday prayers are now being offered in all central mosques, Khanqahs, shrines and imambaras of Jammu and Kashmir. Therefore, he said. Friday prayers will be offered in Jama Masjid Srinagar on Friday.
However, the Anjuman Auqaf clarified that as per the guidelines of medical experts, the worshippers will take precautionary measures and strictly adhere to Covid SOPs during the Friday and daily prayers.
Recently, when the district administration lifted ban on Muharram procession after about three decades, a number of Shia organisations questioned the announcement timing. They said when prayers are not being allowed in Jamia Masjid and annual yatra to holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas was cancelled, how 30 year long ban was lifted during COVID threat.
