LUCKNOW: Following the appeal from the religious heads of the two sects, 14 prominent mosques of the city altered Jumah (Friday) prayer timings on Wednesday.
Clerics in Lucknow, setting an example of peace and harmony have decided to shift timings for Jumah namaz this Friday in order to avoid any clash with Holi revellers.
Imam-e-Eidgah Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahli, who is also executive committee member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), appealed to the imams of different mosques, especially those in sensitive areas, to shift the timing of the Friday prayers by 30 minutes to an hour and, in the process, send a message of communal amity.
“…we have shifted the prayer timings by an hour at the Idgah here. It will now be held at 1.45 pm,” Farangi Mahli said today.
“In the past, there have been incidents of riots breaking out with the Holi revellers throwing colour on those going to offer namaz…we have taken this step especially keeping in mind the senstivity in the mixed population areas,” he said.
The cleric said that Shia scholar Maulana Kalbe Jawad Naqv has also decided to shift the prayer timings at the Asifi mosque where it will be held this time at 1 pm instead of 12.20 pm.
He said this decision will send a positive message of the country abroad and remove the impression that an atmosphere of communal tension prevailed in India.
Since Holi is coinciding with Jumma Namaz, taking into consideration the Hindu community’s sentiments, the clerics had requested and also appeal others to change Jumah namaz timings in areas to ensure a peaceful Holi celebration in the vicinity.
The clerics also appeal to members of both the communities to cooperate on the day in order to avoid any kind of unwanted situation.
Agencies input