Mirwaiz Umar Farooq flays J&K administration for not rescheduling Eid-e-Milad holiday

Hurriyat Conference chairman and Jamia Masjid chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Monday criticised the Jammu and Kashmir administration for “ not shifting” the official holiday for Milad-un-Nabi from September 16 to September 17.

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“As Eid-e-Milad is on Tuesday, the state holiday should have been given on that day. This action shows the callous attitude of the authorities towards the Muslim community. It has hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims in Kashmir,” Mirwaiz said in a statement on Monday, adding that he is “surprised at the Jammu and Kashmir administration’s decision regarding the official holiday.”

Hurt sentiments

As Eid-e-Milad is on Tuesday, the holiday should have been declared on that day. This action shows the callous attitude of the authorities towards the Muslim community. It has hurt the religious sentiments. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Chief cleric, Jamia Masjid

On the evening of September 4, after the crescent moon was not sighted, the Grand Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam, had announced that the Rabi-al-Awwal (third month of Islamic Calendar) month begins from September 6. After the announcement, the Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi falls on September 17.

Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi, which marks the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad, is celebrated on 12 Rabi-al-Awwal and is celebrated as a state holiday.

The Jammu and Kashmir official calendar had listed the holiday on September 16. On Sunday, however, the J&K administration didn’t change the holiday and the state observed the Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi on Monday.

Mirwaiz said on Monday that it is “most unfortunate that those governing us today are ignorant about our religious and cultural traditions and have little interest in understanding it, or showing respect to it.”

Mirwaiz also said that he has been under house arrest since September 2 and is restricted by the authorities from participating in religious and social functions.