M Rafi Ahmed
Unlike the previous years, this time the sermon during Eid-ul-Fitr special prayers held across Eidgahs and mosques while shedding light on Universal Brotherhood, togetherness and communal amity among different faiths, mainly focused on discharging democratic duty during the Lok Sabha elections. Almost everywhere, the Imams did send a strong message in ensuring cent percent voting.
The mood was upbeat at the Eidgah maidan braving the heat wave sweeping the State as Muslims clad in their best festive attire took part at the ‘Perunaal Thozhugai’ (Eid-ul-Fitr special prayer) and sat patiently to hear the sermon on the significance of Eid-ul-Fitr celebration also known as ‘Festival of Charity’. In this context, it is pertinent to point out that Imams at Eidgah maidan and mosques expressed concern over the sufferings of Palestinians and made special dua for them.
Even the British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak while greeting the Muslims in the country and across the world on the occasion of Eid and raised the Gaza issue in his message and said the bloodshed and suffering are ‘unbearable’ in the war. He also highlighted the plight of Palestinian natives in Gaza amid the ongoing Israeli military offensive against Hamas and made it clear that he is doing everything to end the conflict and to set free the hostages.
At Podanur Jannah mosque, the chief Imam Moulavi Ziauddin, who led the special prayers, made emotional dua for the strife-torn Palestinians for their liberation and underlined the need for exercising franchise without fail in the parliamentary elections and urged the first-time voters to elect a new people-centric government which safeguards the interests of minorities and scheduled castes.
Likewise, Masjidun Noor chief Imam Hafiz M H Mohamed Aariff Siraji in his Eid-ul-Fitr sermon amidst a mammoth gathering of Muslims including women and children at the MEWS school ground in Podanur neighbourhood dwelt at length the plight of Palestinians and prayed for their safety and wellbeing. The Imam also stressed the importance of voting and appealed to Muslims including women-folk to cast their votes for a government protecting the interests of minorities.
Toeing their line, the chief Imam Moulavi Mohamed Ismail during Eid-ul-Fitr special prayers at a huge gathering of Muslims held at Karumbukkadai Islamiyah Matricuation school campus underscored unity and peace among all people cutting across communal lines and urged those assembled to exercise their voting right. Jamaat-e-Islami Hind president P S Umar Farook, Public Relations Secretary M Abdul Hakkim besides other executives were among those who were present at the congregation.
Similar special prayers were held at Eidgah maidan at the Poo Market Hyder Ali Tippu Sultan mosque under Ahley Dakhni Sunnath Jamaat with thousands of Muslims from across North Coimbatore, RS Puram and surrounding areas taking part and later offered ziarat at the burial ground adjacent to the Eidgah maidan. Meanwhile, the famed Coimbatore Athar Jamaat mosque on the Oppanakkara Street witnessed a massive gathering to offer Eid-ul-Fitr special prayers.
