Clergy imposes curbs on religious gatherings in Valley

An influential amalgam of religious organisations in Kashmir on Wednesday imposed certain cubs on gatherings in the Valley’s mosques and appealed people to follow instructions issued by doctors and medical scientists strictly to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

In a statement, Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema Jammu and Kashmir, a conglomerate of religious organisations headed by chief Muslim cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, while expressing deep concern over the spread of the virus, called upon the imams, preachers and managements of mosques to refrain from organising events which require large gathering, restrict Friday prayers to brief sermons in Arabic and two fard (obligatory) rakats of namaz.

It asked the worshippers to leave the mosques immediately after these rituals and offer customary sunah and nawafil prayers at home.

It further requested elderly and sick people not to go to mosques but stay at home and pray there only. The organisation also requested other worshipers to wash hands properly before entering and leaving places of worship, avoid handshakes and hugs while greeting each other, limit felicitation and condolence meetings by shortening their duration period and follow the advice of health experts in letter and spirit.

Various religious organisations and clerics in Kargil have already announced the cancellation of Friday congregations and other religious gatherings in the district.