After CM’s stance on namaz, clerics say Bakrid prayers will be offered at mosques, Eidgahs

Lucknow: In wake of chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s directive that govt won’t allow offering namaz in public places and Muslims can offer prayers in shifts if mosques are cramped for space, several Muslim clerics in UP have said that Bakrid namaz would be offered inside mosques and Eidgahs as in previous years, and, if required, arrangements could be made for multiple prayer shifts.

The CM had clarified his govt’s stance at an event in Lucknow earlier this week.

He had suggested that if there was a large gathering, prayers could be offered in shifts. “If offering namaz is essential to you, do so in shifts. We will not stop you from praying. However, it will not be permitted on the roads,” he had said.

Senior executive member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali, said extensive preparations were being made in mosques and Eidgahs as every year for Bakrid which will be celebrated on May 28.

The cleric said arrangements for offering namaz in multiple shifts could be made if needed, provided each congregation had a separate imam.

Mahali said Muslims had been offering prayers inside mosques and Eidgahs for years and have always followed law and order because namaz was not only an act of worship, but it also taught discipline. By avoiding prayers on roads for years, Muslims had demonstrated that they were a disciplined and civilised community, he added.

On the CM’s directive, Mahali said, “We expect govt to apply the same rules to all communities.”

General secretary of the All India Shia Personal Law Board, Maulana Yasoob Abbas, said arrangements for Eid prayers at Shia mosques are being made in the same manner as every year.

However, he clarified that there was no provision for multiple shifts in Shia congregational prayers.

“This is about worship, and only one form of worship should not be targeted. Rules should apply equally to all. Any procession or religious activity that disrupts traffic should be stopped,” he added.

Meanwhile, the leading clerics of the Barelvi sect backed the CM saying that prayers should be offered only at clean and peaceful places where there is no disturbance.

The national president of the All India Muslim Jamaat, Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Bareilvi, said Islam strictly instructs that there should be no obstruction between a worshipper and Allah while offering namaz.

The imam of the Jama Masjid in Bareilly, Maulana Khursheed, said the CM did not say anything wrong by opposing prayers on roads. The directive had been followed earlier as well and would continue to be followed in future, he said.

The principal of the Madrasa Islamia Arabia Jama Masjid in Amroha, Mufti Syed Mohammad Affan Mansoorpuri, said that according to Islamic principles, offering namaz on roads or similar public places was not considered appropriate.

Prayers should not be offered anywhere without obtaining the necessary permission, and Muslims were aware of this and largely followed the norm, he said.

However, Mansoorpuri said that while Muslims follow govt directives on offering prayers, CM’s remarks were aimed at appeasing the majority community.

Moradabad’s city imam Hakim Maulana Masoom Ali Azad backed the chief minister and said that Muslims had been offering Eid prayers in mosques and Eidgahs for a long time.