Goodbye Friday prayers concluded peacefully in Uttar Pradesh, prayers were raised for the progress of the country in mosques from Gorakhpur to Moradabad.

Mosques across Uttar Pradesh were packed with worshipers on the occasion of the last Friday of the holy month of Ramzan, also known as ‘Goodbye Jumma’ or ‘Jumatul Vida’. Goodbye Friday prayers were offered with peace and tranquility across the state. After the Namaz, lakhs of hands raised in prayer for the country’s prosperity, progress, peace and brotherhood.

While there was sadness on the faces of the people about the end of the month of Ramzan, there was also joy in the arrival of Eid. In their speeches, Imams and Ulama in the mosques highlighted the importance of Zakat, Fitra and Shabe Qadr and appealed to the people to offer them before Eid prayers.

Strict security arrangements in Moradabad

In Moradabad, which is considered sensitive, the administration remained fully alert regarding the Goodbye Friday prayers. Heavy police force was deployed outside all the mosques from the city to the countryside. SSP Satpal Antil and District Magistrate Anuj Singh themselves were seen taking stock of the security arrangements on the streets. Here in the mosques the worshipers offered special prayers to maintain peace and harmony in the country.

Eid like atmosphere seen in Gorakhpur

An Eid-like atmosphere was witnessed on Goodbye Friday in Gorakhpur. A unique initiative was taken by ‘Al Kalam Association’ near Rasoolpur Jama Masjid here. The association set up a stall of religious books named ‘Kitab Bula Rahi Hai’, about which there was a lot of enthusiasm among the people. Maulana Muhammad Shadab, Muzaffar Hasnain Rumi, Minhajuddin Ansari and Syed Nadeem Ahmed played important roles in this event.

Preparations had started from morning itself

The hustle and bustle had started in the Muslim community since morning regarding Goodbye Friday. People woke up in the morning, took ghusl (bath), wore their best clothes and applied perfume and headed to the mosques. From children to the elderly, everyone was trying to get a place in the first row. Many mosques were completely filled long before the Azaan.

Along with urban areas, a large number of people from rural areas also reached the cities to offer Namaz and do Eid shopping. The crowd was so huge that there was less space in many mosques, after which people offered namaz by spreading mats on the rooftops and outside on the roads. Mosque committees had also arranged for tents, water and extra carpets for the convenience of the worshippers.