The crescent moon of Rabi-ul-Awwal was not sighted on Thursday, August 13, corresponding to 29 Safar 1448 AH, and therefore the first day of Rabi-ul-Awwal will be observed on Saturday, August 15, the Grand Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam, said.
In a statement, Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam said Rabi-ul-Awwal is the month in which Prophet Muhammad (SAW), the Imam-ul-Anbiya, was born. He extended greetings to Muslims, particularly the people of Jammu and Kashmir, on the arrival of the blessed month.
Rabi-ul-Awwal holds special religious significance across the Muslim world, including Kashmir, where the month is observed with religious fervour. Special gatherings, sermons and congregational prayers are held at mosques, shrines and religious centres across the Valley.
Roads and markets in several areas also take on a festive look, with devotees and local communities putting up banners and displays expressing their love and reverence for Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
“Rabi-ul-Awwal is a very righteous and blessed month for Muslims. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was born in this month and came as a blessing for the entire world. People here look forward to observing the month with devotion and love,” said Farooq Bhat, a Hazratbal resident.
The biggest gatherings during the month are witnessed at Dargah Hazratbal, where devotees from different parts of Kashmir throng the shrine, particularly during the first 12 days of Rabi-ul-Awwal. Congregational prayers and religious programmes are held during the period, while surrounding markets and roads witness increased activity.
“We especially look forward to the first 12 days of Rabi-ul-Awwal. A large number of people visit Hazratbal during this period, and there is a different kind of hustle and bustle in the area. For vendors, too, these days are important as the footfall increases considerably,” said a vendor near Hazratbal shrine.
Meanwhile, officials said special arrangements were being put in place at Hazratbal and other major mosques and shrines expected to witness large gatherings during the month.
Officials from the police, transport, health, Public Health Engineering (PHE) and Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), among other departments, are expected to remain on alert to ensure smooth movement of devotees and adequate civic and emergency services.
“Necessary arrangements are being coordinated among the concerned departments, particularly at places where large gatherings are expected. The focus will be on traffic management, sanitation, drinking water, healthcare and maintaining law and order so that devotees can observe the month without inconvenience,” an official said.
