Srinagar, Mar 28: Jammu and Kashmir’s Grand Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam Tuesday said that Shab-e-Qadr will be observed on April 17 while as Eid moon will be sighted on April 20 in order to end the considerable uncertainty among the people regarding the impending significant events of the ongoing holy month of Ramadan.
Speaking to media persons here after a meeting with several scholars and Ulema , Grand Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam said that after due consultation, they had reached a consensus that Shab-e-Qadr shall be observed on April 17. Adding, “Efforts for moon sighting will also be made on April 20, and if at all the Shawal moon is sighted, people starting their first fast from Friday (March 24, 2023) will have to make up the omitted fasting after Eid,” Islam said.
“Before making any such declaration, the MeT department will also be consulted,” he said. Adding that “any decision regarding Eid will be made after comprehensive consultation with all scholars from different schools of thought.”
The Raheemiya Bandipora, Chief Rector of Dar-ul-Uloom, was complimented by Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam for overseeing the conference. Islam further claimed that a united resolution was passed to call for the release of detained scholars such as Maulana Abdur Rashid Dawoodi, Mirwaiz Kashmir Moulvi Umer Farooq, and others.
Pertinent to mention, there was a contradiction earlier about fasting because Grand Mufti had said that fasting shall begin on Friday, however most people in Kashmir began fasting on Thursday only. The sighting of the Ramadan crescent on Wednesday night was not confirmed by any witnesses, according to the Grand Mufti.
The grand mufti also said “He is not anybody’s agent in Kashmir. Whatever is being stated, he is speaking as the grand mufti of Kashmir, not as Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam. He further added that, “A large number of social media users have made derogatory remarks about me, which was unfortunate.”
It is pertinent to mention here that there was major controversy over the first day of fasting, and the grand mufti had stated that no moon sighting was witnessed in any parts of Kashmir. However, people across Kashmir had started fasting on Thursday.
The meeting of the ulemas and scholars was also attended by, Moulana Rahmatullah Qasmi, Ghulam Rasool Hami, and Prof. Muhammad Tayib Kamili, Moulana Aga Syed Al Hassan Mousivi, Ghulam Muhammad Bhat, Moulana Fayaz Ahmed Rizivi, Masroor Abbas Ansari, and others.
