As Jammu & Kashmir recorded its the highest ever COVID-19 deaths in a single day in the past 24 hours, sermons during Friday congregational prayers in mosques in the Kashmir valley were focused on educating people on COVID-19-appropriate protocols to be followed. Special prayers were also held for the victims.
Khursheed Anzar, an Imam of a mosque in Lal Bazaar, said that the friday sermons usually revolve around moral and Islamic education imparted by the Quran and the prophets but the mosque authorities decided to restrict the sermons to the pandemic by educating people on avoiding large gatherings, maintaining distance, and wearing masks.
Announcements were made from mosques on Friday, requesting the elderly and ailing to avoid attending congregational prayers in mosques in a part of Srinagar city.
“We are aware of the potential threat religious congregations pose. We need to do more to ensure a discipline is created so that no mosque becomes a spreader [of the coronavirus]. We also prayed for the victims of the pandemic,” Khalid Shaheed, another imam from Rajouri Kadal said, as quoted by the Hindu.
The development came after the collective efforts of religious leaders and Deputy Commissioners met in Shopian, Kupwara and Srinagar to seek the support of mosques in combating the pandemic.
Syed Masood, Medical Superintendent of the Government Medical College Hospital, Baramulla, urged all masjid (mosque) and mohalla (locality) committees to arrange oxygen facilities.
“A disastrous wave is on its way. This little time should be used to build these small domiciliary facilities. which will facilitate in improving the healthcare system from overloading,” Dr. Masood said.
J&K reported 1,937 new cases of Covid-19 on Friday, Jammu district recorded the highest number of 525 cases.
As of Saturday, there are 16,993 active coronavirus cases in Jammu and Kashmir.