Asif Iqbal
Srinagar, May 10: (GNS) As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to unleash its ugly face throwing normal life out of gear, the things seem only going from bad to worse with a record spike in cases for over a month now. The onslaught has brought authorities on knees, nonetheless equally taking an unimaginable toll on social and religious activities across nook and cranny.
Come an eve like ‘Shab-e-Qadr’, who would have taken indoors, who would have thought of a silent ambience filled with gloom and fear rather than cheerful faces, buzzing (of Islamic) faith-followers and shrills of mosque loudspeakers – only reaching crescendo with each passing minute – However it all passed on quietly, second time in a row in the aftermath of outbreak of deadly novel Coronavirus pandemic.
Nonetheless not just Shab-e-Qadr, it earlier was Shab-e-Mehraj and Shab-e-Baraat which went with limited observations at almost all local and prominent mosques and shrines across Kashmir valley for last two years now.
Pertinent to mention here that Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Waqf Board, as reported earlier, had announced suspension of celebrations and congregational prayers on Jummat-ul-Vida at Masjids and Shrines affiliated to it, in view of threat of the Coronavirus situation. Likewise Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid also had on May 6 announced that Jummat-ul-Vida and Shab-e-Qadr programmes at the Grand Masjid stand cancelled due to exponential rise in COVID-19 cases and lockdown – imposed in the wake of second wave of Coronavirus.
However mosques in City suburbs and rural areas were reported to have witnessed minimal participation of the devotees, who were seen engrossed in thoughtful prayers, seeking atonement of their sins besides praying for peace and prosperity of the mankind.
Special prayers were also reportedly held in mosques on conclusion of Tarawee (Special Ramdhan prayers) to seek divine intervention for eradication of Covid pandemic.
Notably with 5190 fresh covid-19 cases and 54 deaths reported on Sunday, the active cases have neared 50000 as the death toll in the meantime goes past 2700 mark.
It is to mention here that the holy night of Shab-e-Qadr or Laylat-ul-Qadr (variously rendered in English as the Night of Decree, Night of Power, Night of Value, Night of Destiny, or Night of Measures) is believed by Muslims to be the blessed night on which Last Prophet of Islam, Prophet Muhammad (SAW), received the first revelation of Holy Quran from Almighty Allah through angel Jibrael (AS). (GNS)
