Jumat-ul-Vida prayers at Jamia Masjid Srinagar disallowed by authorities

Srinagar: The management committee of Jamia Masjid in Srinagar announced on Friday that the authorities have forbidden congregational prayers on Jumat-ul-Vida (the final Friday of Ramadan) there.

According to a statement made by Anjuman Auqaf, the management committee of Jamia Masjid Srinagar, District Magistrate and police officials visited the grand mosque at 9.30 am and asked that the management lock the gates as Jumat-ul-Vida prayers would not be permitted there, New Indian Express reported.

The Anjuman expressed its displeasure with the decision while lamenting the enormous hardship it has caused for the thousands of Muslims who typically travel from all across the valley to Jamia Masjid on the last Friday of Ramadan to worship.

“Offering prayers on last Friday of Ramadan has great significance” it said.

Jumat-ul-Vida, the final Friday prayers of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, will be held with large gatherings at mosques and shrines around J&K on Friday.

The authorities also forbade "Jumat-ul-Vida" congregational prayers and "Shab-e-Qadr" (all-night prayers) at Srinagar's famed Jamia Masjid last year.