In view of Holi, city’s biggest Eidgah changes time of Juma namaz

Lucknow: Imam of Lucknow Eidgah, Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali, who is also an executive member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board, has advised Muslims to change the time of Juma namaz next Friday which coincides with Holi. He has also advised the community members to offer namaz at a mosque in their locality that day, instead of going to faraway ones."This year, the second Juma of Ramzan is on March 14, when Holi will also be celebrated. The festival is celebrated with colours till around 1 pm. Therefore, Maulana Khalid Rashid has issued an advisory regarding Juma namaz," a press release issued by the Islamic Centre of India says. Khalid Rashid is the chairman of the Islamic Centre. He is also the head of the Chand Committee which confirms the sighting of the moon to decide the beginning of Ramzan month and the date of Eid.The advisory says that the mosques, where Juma prayer is usually offered between 12.30 pm and 1 pm, may postpone it to 2 pm so that 'namazis' don't face any problem while commuting."March 14 is a holiday. Therefore, Muslims should not go to a distant mosque for namaz, but offer the prayer at a mosque in their locality," the advisory says.The Imam also announced that the namaz at Jama Masjid Eidgah in Lucknow, which sees the biggest congregation of devotees, will be offered at 2 pm next Friday, instead of 12.45 pm.He appealed to all mosques, imams and management committees of the state to follow the advisory. "We hope that this initiative would foster communal amity and national unity, and fortify our Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb," he added. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Women's Day wishes, messages and quotes !