National Conference (NC) president Dr. Farooq Abdullah, who escaped unhurt in an assassination attempt recently, also joined the worshippers at the Hazratbal shrine and offered the congregational prayers on March 13, 2026.
| Photo Credit: Imran Nissar
Amid tight security, special congregational prayers and rallies were held in Kashmir on the occasion of last Friday (March 13, 2026) of Islamic holy month of Ramzan. The authorities, however, barred the prayers at the Jamia Masjid in Srinagar.
The largest congregation was held at the Hazratbal shrine where worshippers attended the noon prayers from different parts of the Valley. National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah, who escaped unhurt in an assassination attempt recently, also joined the worshippers at the Hazratbal shrine and offered the congregational prayers.
“May Allah end the war and defeat the forces that seek to destroy Islam. We pray for peace, stability, and relief for people facing hardship,” said Mr. Abdullah.
The Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid, the caretaker body of the historic mosque, condemned the authorities’ move to close the mosque on the occasion of Jumatul Vida, the last Friday of the holy month of Ramzan.
“The gates of the historic mosque were locked from all sides and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was placed under house arrest. He was prevented from delivering the sermon and leading the prayers on this sacred occasion,” an Auqaf spokesman said.
The Mirwaiz said it’s for the seventh consecutive year that the rulers have denied Muslims the right to offer prayers at Jama Masjid on this auspicious day. “Just as Israel has forcibly shut the gates of Masjid al-Aqsa during Ramzan, a similar painful reality is being witnessed here. It is deeply shameful that the houses of Allah are being locked against the faithful,” the Mirwaiz said.
Meanwhile, Shia Muslims held street rallies on ‘Youm-e-Quds’ in solidarity with Palestinians, especially in Budgam, Pulwama, Bandipora and Baramulla districts. The biggest pro-Iran and pro-Palestine rally was held at the Markazi Imambara Budgam. On the occasion, the Anjuman-e-Sharie Shian-J&K accused the U.S. and Israel of “aggressive and colonial policies”. The participants also announced their allegiance to newly appointed supreme leader Ayatollah Syed Mojtaba Khamenei of Iran.
“Jumat-ul-Vida is not merely a religious occasion but a day that symbolizes the unity of the Muslim Ummah, collective awakening, and the renewal of commitment to support the oppressed. The Islamic Republic of Iran today stands with remarkable courage, resilience, and unwavering determination against the joint aggression of the United States and Israel,” said Shia cleric Aga Syed Hassan Al-Mousavi Al-Safavi, who is president of the Anjuman-e-Sharie Shian.
He said the selection of Ayatollah Syed Mojtaba Khamenei as the third supreme leader of Iran “reflected the continuity of the Islamic revolution”. “God willing, Iran will emerge victorious in the struggle between truth and falsehood and that the malicious designs of arrogant powers will ultimately fail,” he added.
Published – March 14, 2026 05:28 am IST
