KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
Khawaja Digar was observed at the Naqashbandh Sahib (RA) shrine in the old City with thousands of devotees thronging the shrine for the congregational Asar Salah, despite cold wave. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq addressed the mammoth gathering.
The urs of Hazrat Khwaja Baha-ud-Din Muhammad Naqshband Bukhrai (RA) is celebrated on the 3rd Rabi-ul-Awal every year, besides the gatherings for special prayers (khatmat-muazzamat) are held for twelve days i.e. from 21st Safar to 3rd Rabi-ul Awal.
These gatherings are held every day at 8 AM in the Khanqah-i-Naqshbandiya. On the urs day after the Asr prayers, special mass prayers are held called ‘Khoja Digar’. This practice continues as a tradition from the times of Hazrat Khwaja Khawand Mahmood i.e. from 1017 AH- 405 years.
Amid biting cold, devotees thronged the shrine of the revered Sufi saint located at Khwaja Bazaar, Nowhatta, for prayers and supplications. A large congregation of devotees gathered to offer special ‘Khwaji Digar’ prayers in the afternoon.
Stating that to follow the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is not only necessary for Muslims but it benefits the entire humanity, All Parties Hurriyat Conference (m) Chairperson and Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulama (MMA) Ameer (chief), Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said these teachings provide solution to all troubles and tribulations that the Muslims were caught in, be it political or social.
Mirwaiz said the Muslim world was encountering various political and social problems and Muslim societies were getting more materialistic and getting caught in other menaces as they were getting far from the message and teachings of the Allah, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and saints like Hazrat Naqshband and suggested that the only way to encounter these problems was to follow their teachings in letter and spirit.
Throwing light on the present political situation, Mirwaiz while welcoming the resumption of dialogue between India and Pakistan said that Hurriyat (m) has always been for the cordial relationship between India and Pakistan and dialogue is the most effective way to resolve the contentious issues between the two countries.
He said, “unlike the past when dialogue would be stalled on one or the other pretext, this time, we hope, the dialogue would be carried forward with all seriousness and in a meaningful way.” “Kashmir being the most important pending issue between the two countries would get the attention it deserves because the continuation of this issue has been a stumbling block in the overall stability and progress of South Asian region.”
Mirwaiz expressed hope that the “dialogue will lead to fresh confidence building measures over Kashmir”, be it within the Kashmir or across the line of control so as to help develop a “cordial atmosphere for the smooth progress of the dialogue”.
“Kashmir is basically a political and a human issue and needs a political solution. Both the countries shall have to devise a mechanism in order to include the people of Kashmir in the dialogue because without their participation and without taking their aspirations into account there cannot be a just and agreeable solution to this issue,” he said.
Hurriyat (m) Chairperson called upon the Indo-Pak leadership to rise above their traditional political stances and show statesmanship and seriousness in resolving the complex issues for ensuring long-lasting peace and stability in the region.
Praying for Khawaja Bahuddin Naqshband and calling upon the devotees to ensure that their mission and their vision bears fruit with the spread of Islam, the Mirwaiz paid tributes to the martyrs of Kashmir and prayed to the Almighty Allah to accord them a special place in Jannah.
