J K News Today
Srinagar
The Jamia-Masjid – the grand old mosque – of Srinagar will reopen for regular prayers from Tuesday- August 18 , according to Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid (AAJ) .
The AAJ runs affairs of Jamia Masjid. It said in a release that it will follow all the standard operating procedures, masks, social distancing to ensure safe prayers
It sad in a statement that as the spike in daily number of corona positive cases continues in J&K , so people need to continue to take great precautions and strictly adhere to public health regulations and guidelines laid down by the medical fraternity .
AAJ said a “new normal” for conducting daily activities is evolving worldwide as lockdown restrictions are easing and services are resuming.
“So AAJ after consultations and suggestions and observing the precepts being followed by Muslims world over, is re-opening the historic Jama Masjid Srinagar for prayers from Tuesday Aug 18th ,”
Jamia Masjid is a religio-political centre of Kashmir where from chief cleric of Kashmir Mirwaiz Umar Farooq delivers his Friday addresses- a mix of teachings drawn from Islamic scriptures. But, currently the Mirwaiz who also heads All Parties Hurriyat Conference , is under house arrest.
AAJ said that health regulations and SOPs need to be strictly followed by those visiting the mosques. AAJ strongly suggests that vulnerable community members i.e elderly those who are sick, and children should stay away from coming to the mosque for prayers. Young children should not be brought along to the mosque.
AAJ said that the international guidelines and protocol while visiting mosques in view of the Covid 19 pandemic should be strictly adhered to.
“Worshipers should not greet each other by hugging, shaking hands or any other physical contact and should maintain a physical distance at all times.”
Worshippers will leave a distance of 2 meters between them and a space of one row between two rows.
The use of fountain for ablution inside the mosques will not be permitted. All worshippers should mandatorily wear a face mask and bring their own prayer mats and their own copies of holy Quran with them. Ablution should be done at home and worshippers should ensure that they keep a safe distance from others when leaving or entering the mosque.
