Muslims in Lucknow offer ‘Alvida Namaz’ before Eid

Lucknow, Sep 18(ANI): Muslims gathered in huge numbers at several mosques of Lucknow on Friday to offer the ‘Alvida Namaz’ marking the last Friday prayers of the holy month of Ramadan.

“We prayed to the Lord to raise the financial status of Muslims and also eradicate all their problems. In India, Hindu and Muslims have been living together for several centuries and we want them to be like this in future,” said Moulvi Faizul Rehman, an Islamic cleric at a mosque in Lucknow.

Highlighting the significance of the ‘Alvida Namaz’, Mohammad Sayeed, a Namazi said that it is the reason why thousands of Muslim from across the city gather to offer prayers.

“During Ramadan if we participate in the ‘Alvida Namaz’ and offer our prayers, then we get a reward for it and it will usher prosperity to us,” Sayeed said.

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Hijri lunar calendar, commemorates the revelation of Quran, Islam’s holy book, and has traditionally been a time of religious fervour, settling old disputes and behaving charitably towards neighbours.

Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. Considered auspicious for prayers, Muslims observe the month-long fasting named ‘Roza’.

They believe this secures them a place in heaven and also brings them face to face with Allah, the Almighty, on the day of ‘Kayamat’.

The end of Ramadan heralds the festival of Eid-ul-fitr. (ANI)

Varun Gandhi being targeted: Hindu Mahasabha

Lucknow, Mar 21 (ANI): The Hindu Mahasabha on Saturday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Varun Gandhi was being targeted as he was speaking for the cause of ‘Hindutva’.

“There is nothing wrong in his speech. He is being targeted for speaking for the cause of Hindutva,” said Mahant Narayan Giri, President, All India Hindu Mahasabha.

Giri declared that the Mahasabha would not field any candidate against him in the general elections.

“We will not field any candidate against Varun Gandhi. We will also not field any candidate against the BJP nominees who speak for the cause of Hindutva,” he added.

On March 17, the Election Commission filed a criminal case under non-bailable law against Varun Gandhi for his inflammatory speech against Muslims in Pilibhit.

On March 6, at an election meeting in his constituency Pilibhit, Varun Gandhi had said, “All Hindus should remain on one side and send the rest to Pakistan.”

“They have names such as Karimullah, Mazurullah. If you see them in the night you would get scared,” he added.

Gandhi, however, strongly denied having made any communal or divisive statements and said it was an attempt to malign his image.

“I strongly refute the charge of making any communal or divisive statements as part of my election campaign. In this climate of terrorism, I have spoken only about standing firm against anti-national and anti-social forces that threaten this nation,” Gandhi said.

Giri criticized the BJP for its deviation from the issues related to Hindutva.

“The saffron party has now deviated from the issues related to Hindutva. There is no difference between it and any other political party now. This is also a reason for the slide in popularity of the BJP,” he added. (ANI)