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GURUGRAM: The Sikh community in the city donated room in their gurdwaras to host the ‘Juma Namaz’ on Wednesday, just days after a Hindu resident offered his land to Muslims for Friday prayers.
The Gurdwara Guru Singh Sabha, which oversees four large and one small gurdwara, said that all communities were welcome to pray there and that if the Muslim community is having difficulty conducting prayers, the gurdwaras may be used.
Sherdil Singh Sandhu, president, Gurdwara Guru Singh Sabha, said they will allow members of all faiths to use the premises for prayers. “The Muslim community is facing problems due to lack of space, so they can use the premises of our five gurudwaras for Friday prayers. All religions are one and we have faith in humanity and human values,” he said.
Right-wing groups have attempted to disrupt Namaz in public for the previous two months, particularly in Sector 12, and on October 29, 35 demonstrators were detained for attempting to disrupt Friday prayers. Muslim community representatives decided to leave Sector 12 and urged the authorities to provide them with alternative space as well as clear encroachments on Waqf Board properties.
Muslim community members also requested police protection in order to give namaz at the other specified places, claiming a lack of closed spaces for Friday prayers.
JP Singh, the sabha’s senior vice-president, stated that they believe in God’s oneness and that the Sikh community is always willing to help. “All are welcome to pray as they believe on the gurdwara grounds,” he stated.
According to the office-bearers, the sabha’s five gurdwaras can accommodate 2,000 to 2,500 people at a time.
Akshay Yadav provided his shop’s premises in Sector 12 for Friday prayers last week, a gesture that drew praise from all quarters.
“I am confident that more and more people across communities will come forward to offer their private properties so that Muslims can offer Juma Namaz every Friday for 30 minutes,” said Altaf Ahmad, co-founder, Gurgaon Muslim Council and Gurgaon Nagrik Ekta Manch.