SRINAGAR — Grand Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti Nasir-ul Islam Farooqi on Monday announced the Sadq-e-Fitr (Zakaat-ul-Fitr) as Rs 70 per person this holy month of Ramadan.
The Grand Mufti highlighted the significance of the charity under the (Sadq-e-Fitr), saying after reaching a consensus with the scholars of different schools of thought, the amount has been fixed as Rs 70 per person.
He said the special kind of charity has also to be paid on behalf of the infants.
It is in place to mention here that Sadq-e-Fitr is a religious charity paid by Muslims across the world by or before Eid-ul-Fitr prayers.
SRINAGAR — The Ramadan moon has been sighted in Jammu and Kashmir this evening, Grand Mufti, Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti Nasir ul Islam Farooqi, announced.
“Ramzan crescent of 1445 AH was sighted in different parts of Jammu and Kashmir and the holy month commences this evening with the first day of the month of fasting to be marked tomorrow,” Mufti Nasir ul Islam said, as per the news agency GNS.
He conveyed that the announcement is being made after consultations with other respected members.
Greeting the people, the Grand Mufti prayed that the Almighty Allah ease the hardships and shower his blessings and bring peace and prosperity during this holy month to everyone.
SRINAGAR — In a move aimed at ensuring clarity and consensus on the sighting of the upcoming Holy Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr crescent in Jammu and Kashmir, a prominent scholarly committee has been established under the leadership of Grand Mufti Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam Farooqi.
The decision to form this committee comes in the wake of last year's reported discrepancies in crescent sightings during Ramadan, aiming to mitigate confusion among the populace. Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam Farooqi clarified that the committee was exclusively constituted by the Muslim Personal Law Board, dismissing rumours of involvement from other quarters.
The committee's members, spread across various districts of Jammu and Kashmir, will remain in constant communication to swiftly report any crescent sightings to Mufti Farooqi or designated committee members. Once witnesses come forward, the scholars will meticulously assess their reliability before making an official announcement.
A long list of committee members from different regions, including Srinagar, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Baramulla, Kupwara, Budgam, Kulgam, Anantnag, Jammu, Pulwama, Shopian, Samba, Kathua, Ramban, Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi, and Leh/Ladakh, underscores the broad representation and concerted effort to ensure a thorough evaluation process.
SRINAGAR — Jammu and Kashmir’s Grand Mufti Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam on Tuesday said that the moon for Muharram-ul-Haram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, was not sighted anywhere and that Thursday would be the first day of the new Islamic Year – 1445 AH.
Talking to the news agency KNO, the Grand Mufti said that no witnesses could be made available on record regarding the sighting of the moon from any part of Kashmir or Jammu divisions.
“The Islamic New Year will now start from Thursday, July 20, and the Ashura will be observed on July 29,” he said.
In his message to Muslims of J&K, Grand Mufti urged Muslims to observe the ensuing Ashura with austerity and asked them to pray for the overall well-being of the Ummah, especially of the youth.
“People should refrain from indulging in immodest activities in the month of Muharram,” he said and added, “The Ashura has a fundamental message that we should not bow before falsehood and instead remain steadfast on what our religion teaches us.”
The Grand Mufti said Muhrram teaches us to remain steadfast on the path of Islam and follow in the footsteps of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS), who was martyred along with 70 of his family members in the battle of Karbala some 1400 years ago.
SRINAGAR — Controversy has erupted as Vishwa Bharti Girls School, where boys virtually outnumber female students, allegedly imposed a ban on the use of Abaya (a loose cloak worn by Muslim ladies).
The decision sparked a stir with netizens and political leaders lambasting the school authorities which however clarified that no such ban has been imposed and girl students are free to done Abaya if they want.
Female students from Vishwa Bharti Girls School, located in Rainawari Srinagar, staged a protest, alleging that the college authorities have double standards. “College staff warns us of consequence in closed-door meetings if we wear the Abaya and in open or to media, it is claiming that no ban on the use of Abaya has been imposed,” they said.
Many argued that this ban infringes upon religious freedom and unfairly targets Muslim students.
Chairperson Wakf Board, Darakshan Andrabi virtually supported the alleged ban, saying that uniform is a must for students, and if there is no dress code, it affects educational institutions.
BJP General Secretary for Jammu and Kashmir, Ashok Koul said that his party was not in favour of imposing dress codes. "It's a religious issue. We are neither against it nor in its favour. Every person is free to wear clothes of their choice," Koul said.
Some staff from the college were seen arguing with protesting students. “Their behavior is rude. They force us to shun the use of Abaya in the college where boys have taken admissions in large numbers. It’s a college for girls by name only,” some students told the news agency KNT.
The PDP President Mehbooba Mufti called it an attack on religious freedom guaranteed by the constitution. “After Karnataka, now they want to experiment with it in Kashmir. Kashmir has become a laboratory for the BJP’s plans of changing Gandhi's India into Godse's India. All experiments begin from Valley,” she said, adding that the school’s action is unacceptable and it will have serious repercussions.
Students alleged that college authorities are forcing them to take their Abayas off within the school premises. They said they can’t remove their Abayas at a place where boys are studying in large numbers.
"Clothes don't define us, our actions do. Let's focus on creating a positive school culture instead of policing students,” said a couple of parents.
Principal Memroz Shafi said the students had been told that they can wear Abaya from home to school, but they should take it off inside the school premises. “We have not imposed any ban on the use of Abaya. We only want to ensure that students who wish to wear the Abaya should be of the same color and pattern,” she said.
Grand Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam said, "A rebuttal has been issued by the educational institution that they have not issued any order banning the Abaya. The school, which was earlier for girls only, has now become a co-educational school. Hence, the girls have all the right to wear a Burqa to maintain their modesty," Islam said.
SRINAGAR — Jammu and Kashmir’s Grand Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam on Tuesday said that Shab-e-Qadr will be observed on April 17 while as Eid moon will be sighted on April 20 and in case the moon is sighted on April 20, people will have to offer Qaza fasting of a day.
Talking to reporters after the marathon meeting of Ulema that include Moulana Rahmatullah Qasmi, Ghulam Rasool Hami and Prof Muhammad Tayib Kamili, Moulana Aga Syed Al Hassan Mousivi, Ghulam Muhammad Bhat, Moulana Fayaz Ahmed Rizivi, Masroor Abbas Ansari and others, the Grand Mufti, as per the news agency KNO, said, “Shab-e-Qadr will be observed on April 17. Moon sighting will be done on April 20 and if the moon is sighted, people will have to offer one-day Qaza fasting after Eid.”
He said any decision regarding Eid will be made public after thorough consultation with Ulema. “MeT department will also be consulted before any announcement,” he said.
Pertinently, earlier there was a controversy over fasting as Grand Mufti had stated that the people should fast from Friday while the majority of the people in Kashmir had started fasting from Thursday. Grand Mufti had stated he had received no witness about the sighting of the Ramadan crescent on Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, Grand Mufti also demanded the release of Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq, Moulana Abdur Rashid Dawoodi and other Ulema who are serving detention in various jails.
SRINAGAR — Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has claimed that Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has neither been incarcerated nor placed under house arrest.
LG Manoj Sinha made this claim in an interview with the Hindi Service of British Broadcasting Corporation. He said the government has not arrested any social, political, or religious leader.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnb_tzeACqg
In response to a question, Sinha said that cops have been deployed around the house of Mirwaiz for his ‘safety’. “In 2019 also, no Public Safety Act was slapped against him. His father had unfortunately been assassinated. Police deployed around him are for his security,” he said.
“It is he (Mirwaiz) who has to decide what he wants. From our side, he has neither been arrested nor placed under house arrest,” Sinha said.
Mirwaiz-led All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has been issuing weekly statements about his house arrest. The party has been demanding the immediate release of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.
As per the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq completed three years in house detention in Srinagar’s Nigeen area with no formal case against him in August this year. As per his party, he was arrested on August 4, 2019, a day ahead of the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional position.
The statements issued to the media by ‘Mirwaiz Manzil’ from time to time claim that all channels of communication are blocked to Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and all outreach to people, friends, and party cadre are being barred.
Reacting to the claim made by LG, Peoples Conference Chairman Sajad Gani Lone in a tweet said: “I think LG sahib needs to verify facts. His statements don’t reflect reality. May I humbly state that the tradition of locking up leaders and then denying is an old worn-out tradition. It has been happening for the last three decades."
APHC shocked over LG’s statement about Mirwaiz
APHC expressed amazement on the video statement given to media by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, where he refuted that the APHC chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq is under house detention for the past three years since August 2019, but instead the forces' vehicles and personnel stationed outside his house are there for his safety.
In a statement issued to the news agency KNO, APHC said that such blatant misrepresentation of facts and denial of his incarceration is unbelievable. “Mirwaiz for the last three years has forcibly not been allowed to come out of his house despite repeated appeals and implorations from all sections of people to the authorities, including religious ulemas across the state.”
He said, “Newspaper and electronic media reports bear witness to it. Being the Mirwaiz, he is even stopped from going to Jamia Masjid on Fridays to deliver religious sermons from its pulpit which is the centuries-old tradition in J&K or to visit other religious places on important religious occasions. Except close relatives, no one is allowed to enter the house. How can these facts are negated and claims of his not being under house arrest made!”
APHC said that if the authorities now want to release the Mirwaiz, it is welcome, but giving such misleading statements to save face, is 'mischievous'.
“It also wants to clear the air on LG's other statement in that interview that APHC leadership has been playing both sides,” APHC said, adding that its chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq like his forefathers, has always believed in and supported the fundamental truth of democracy - people’s right to make a choice in their future through non violent means, without fear or favour; and the subsequent belief that this is the road to lasting peace and prosperity for the entire subcontinent.
“Mirwaiz and his forefathers represented and defended this basic interest of people of J&K in their engagements with both India and Pakistan and in the course suffered exile, Shahadat and incarcerations. It is the belief in these ideals that helped the APHC chairman bear the harshness and loneliness of house incarceration for the past three years. There has never been any personal ambition of acquiring power to rule, or material gain that would tempt this leadership to play to or appease both or any side. Talks held with both India and Pakistan was only to find a resolution and get the people of Kashmir out of the vicious cycle of violence,” it said.
APHC said that “its stand was and is consistent - the conflict of J&K has to be resolved as per the aspirations of its people and to the satisfaction of other two parties involved in the conflict namely India and Pakistan, through peaceful means preferably dialogue and deliberations. APHC has in the past and will in the future support every endeavour in this direction, safeguarding the interests of people of J&K.”
Meanwhile, it said that if the authorities have now decided to release the Mirwaiz, let him be allowed to deliver the Friday sermon at Jama Masjid this Friday and let them not stop people from assembling there to listen to him.
APHC reiterated its appeal to release all political prisoners, youth and activists detained in jails across India.
J&K’s Grand Mufti seeks immediate release of Mirwaiz
The Grand Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir and the senior leader of Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam, while strongly reacting to the three-year-long detention of the MMU founder & patron Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq, has demanded his immediate release.
All leading religious, social and academic personalities, including the Grand Mufti and the civil society are strongly demanding the release of Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir on the completion of his three years of 'unjustified, illegal and arbitrary' detention so that he could fulfil his responsibilities toward Kashmiri society and people.
In his statement issued to the news agency KNO, Mufti Azam said that apart from his personality as the Mirwaiz of Kashmir, Dr Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq is a beloved leader of the people and his house arrest brings great pain and agony among the masses and is hurting the emotions and sentiments of one and all.
The Grand Mufti questioned that “according to the rulers, if the situation in Kashmir has changed after August 5, 2019, then is it the result of this change by keeping the historical Jamia Masjid Srinagar closed under various pretexts and preventing the Muslims of Kashmir from praying and worshipping in this central place of worship?”
Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam said that disallowing prayers on the auspicious and significant occasions of Jumma-tul-Vida and Eid-ul-Adha has never happened before in his knowledge. "Such incidents will be written in black letters in history because such actions are tantamount to sheer interference in religion," he added.
The Grand Mufti said that along with ensuring the immediate release of Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir, the central Jamia Masjid Srinagar should also be kept open so that he can fulfill the official duties that the Institution of Mirwaiz enjoins upon him.
SRINAGAR — Grand Mufti Jammu and Kashmir Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam on Wednesday announced that the Eid-Ul-Adha festival will be celebrated on July 10 as the moon of Dhu al-Hijjah was not sighted on Wednesday evening.
According to news agency Kashmir News Service, the Grand Mufti of J&K said that the Dhu al-Hijjah moon was not sighted on Wednesday evening following which the Eid-ul- Adha will be celebrated on July 10.
“Dhu al-Hijjah moon has not been sighted today evening, so Eid-ul-Adha will be celebrated on July 10. There is a perception among some people that sacrificial animals are costly and they will offer ‘Sadka’ which is in no way acceptable in Islam as the condition for the day is the sacrifice of animals only,” Grand Mufti J&K Nasir-ul Islam said.
SRINAGAR — The ongoing holy month of Ramadhan has entered its final Ashra (10 days) and thousands of Muslims began to observe Aitikaf in Masjids and Shrines from Friday evening.
The month of blessings, Ramadhan, in the Islamic calendar is divided into three parts of 10 days with each stage called an Ashra, a word meaning “10” in Arabic. The third Ashra begins on the 20th day of Ramadhan as sunsets.
“The first Ashra reflects mercy of Allah (Rehmah), second part reflects forgiveness of Allah (Maghfirah), and third part reflects safety from the hell (Nijaat),” J&K Grand Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam told KNS.
He said these last 10 days are also known as the days of seeking refuge from hellfire. “These last 10 days of Ramadhan are very significant as they are when Laylat-ul-Qadr takes place. The holy night of Laylat-ul-Qadr commemorates the night when the Qur'an was first revealed. This holy night has to be sought in the last 10 days of the odd nights,” he said.
As per Islamic scholars, the greatest Sunnah of the last 10 days of Ramadhan is the observance of Aitikaf. “The Aitikaf begins on the 20th day of Ramdhan with the sunset. In Aitikaf, all the time that a Muslim spends is in the worship of Allah Almighty to ensure that Allah grants forgiveness and blessings to the seeker,” the Grand Mufti said.
He added that no one knows whether they will be alive for the next Ramadhan or not, “therefore, the last 10 days should be spent in the best manner to bid farewell to this holy month and earn maximum blessings and mercy from Allah.”
Quoting Hadith, he said: “Ramadhan is the month, whose beginning is mercy, its middle is forgiveness and its end is emancipation from the fire of hell.”
He said indeed the month of Ramadhan is full of blessings, mercy and forgiveness. “It is the best opportunity for all the Muslims to collect more blessings of Allah and pray for their forgiveness and to be saved from the hellfire during this final Ashra of ongoing Ramadhan.”
He reiterated his appeal to Muslims for paying Sadaqat-ul-Fitr, also known as Zakat-ul-Fitr, by or before Eid prayers, the best within these 10 days. The amount has been fixed at Rs 65 per person for this year.
SRINAGAR — Sadaqat al-Fitr, also known as Zakat al-Fitr, amount has been fixed at Rs 65 per person, Jammu and Kashmir’s Grand Mufti, Nasir-ul-lslam announced on Monday.
Talking to the news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Grand Mufti said that Sadaqat al-Fitr is a duty required of every Muslim and becomes obligatory to pay it before the beginning of Eid prayer and could be given from the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan.
He said the main purpose of Zakat al-Fitr is to provide the poor with a means with which they can celebrate the festival Eid al-Fitr along with the rest of the Muslims.
Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam urged people to ensure Fitr money reaches the poor and destitute before Eid. "It is better to prefer poor and destitute over Darul-Ulooms," he said.
Quoting Hadith, he said: "Every Muslim is required to pay Zakat al-Fitr at the conclusion of the month of Ramadan as a token of thankfulness to Allah for having enabled him or her to observe the obligatory fast. Its purpose is: as a levy on the fasting person. The fasting person will be hanging between the Earth and heavens and it will not be raised up to the Divine Presence without paying the Zakat al-Fitr."
He said that it can be given to the poor and needy but not for the construction purposes of Masjids and any other structures. "There is no harm for any person who is wealthier and wants to pay more than Rs 65 per person as fixed for this year," he said.
