The Jamia Masjid in Srinagar is more than a place of worship—it has been part of the politico-religious life of the people for centuries. However, after the revocation of Article 370, the mosque has rarely opened for prayers, including today - the last Friday of Ramzan (Jumat-ul-Vida) - and Shab-e-Qadr, the 27th night of Ramzan or the night of destiny, which involves night-long prayers and supplication.
Jamia Masjid is located at Nowhatta, the heart of downtown Srinagar. It was commissioned by Sultan Sikandar in 1394 CE and completed in 1402 CE. After the abrogation of J&K's special status, the mosque was closed. It was briefly opened but shut again during the pandemic. In the last 31 weeks, Jamia Masjid opened only once for congregational prayers.
Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the custodian and head preacher of the mosque, has not addressed the congregation at the mosque after revocation by the BJP-led government at the Centre.
The mosque, which can accommodate 40,000 people, is the seat of power and authority for Mirwaiz. Given his stature as an important separatist leader and preacher, the mosque also acts as a platform for him and his supporters, and others to raise their political demands, which has often unnerved the government.
The decision not to allow the congregational prayers on Jumat-ul-Vida and Shab-e-Qadr, was conveyed to the managing body of the mosque, Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid, two days ago. They condemned the decision.
Jammu and Kashmir police defended the decision saying it had received credible inputs that some fringe elements may cause law and order issues. As a result, the mosque was closed down temporarily. Police said people are free to offer prayers on Jumat-ul-Vida after 3 pm in the mosque. On April 9, the police said it arrested 13 persons, who chanted “anti-national slogans” at Jamia Masjid after the Friday prayers. The arrested youths were slapped with provisions under the Public Safety Act, which involves detention from six months to two years.
The members of Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU), an alliance of Islamic scholars and groups in Kashmir, expressed strong resentment over the administration’s decision to disallow prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid on the holiest days of Ramzan. Condemning the ban, the alliance, in a statement, said the religious sentiments of millions of people of Jammu and Kashmir are connected with the Jamia Masjid, which is the centre of guidance and spirituality.
Politicians also weighed in against the administration's decision. National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah said the prohibition was unfortunate. He said it proved that the situation in Kashmir was far from normal and contrary to what has been propagated.
“That is unfortunate. They say that the situation is almost normal. If it is normal, then why no permission to Sahab and Jumat-ul-Vida (prayers) in Jamia Masjid?” he said.
Abdullah said the government was either creating “an artificial normalcy” or selling an “impression of normalcy” in the rest of the country by “suppressing the people here”.
CPI(M) leader M.Y. Tarigami has urged the administration to review the decision in view of the sentiments of the people attached with the mosque. The Hurriyat Conference, too, has sought the revocation of the ban on the prayers. It had urged the government to allow Muslims across the Valley access to the Jamia Masjid on the “very important and holy days of Ramadan”.
