Salat-ul-Istisqa offered to pray for end to dry spell

Srinagar, Jan 14: Amid ongoing dry spell in Kashmir, devotees offered special prayers ‘Salat-ul-Istisqa’, at various places in the summer capital, to seek rain and snow.

Special gathering of ‘Salat-ul-Istisqa’ was organised in Downtown and uptown areas in which hundreds of people prayed for rain and snow in Kashmir. Worshippers from a local masjid at Khanyar gathered in a local park near Dastgeer Sahib (RA) Shrine to offer prayers. During the prayers, a special dua majlish was held to pray for an end to the dry spell.

“It has been around a month and there is no sign of rain or snow. It is high time that we gather in front of Allah and ask for forgiveness and an end to the dry spell,” said Muneer Ahmad, a worshipper.

At Nowhatta, scores of people offered ‘Salat-ul-Istisqa,’. The prayer was led by Mufti Muhammad Yaqoob Baba from Jamiat Ahle Hadith.

“We organised a large gathering of special prayers to pray for an end to the dry spell as per the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). We are staring at drought and scarcity of water if there isn’t any precipitation,,” said Bilal Ahmad, one of the organisers of the special prayers.

Special prayers were also held in Uptown areas including Bemina, where a large number of people gathered to offer prayers. Devotees said that amid the continuous dry spell, there is a spike in diseases. They said that the prolonged dry spell will lead to drought. Farmers, orchardists, and tourism players are staring at a huge blow. Emotional scenes were witnessed across Srinagar as people raised their hands in the sky with moist eyes.

“We destroyed our environment which has led to this situation. Till a few decades ago, Chillai Kalan used to be harsh and full of snow. Although it was tough for us, it promised a year full of water, greenery, and a good harvest,” said Ali Muhammad, an elderly worshipper.

In addition to Srinagar, ‘Salat-ul-Istisqa,’ was organised in various places in South Kashmir and North Kashmir. People in these areas assembled in Eidgah and other places to offer prayers.

Earlier, on Friday, hundreds of devotees gathered at the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar to offer special congregational prayers to seek an end to the dry spell.