Bilal Bhat
As the war between Iran and Israel continues to escalate with open involvement of the United States, emotional scenes were witnessed in several Sunni mosques across Kashmir where special duas and supplications were offered for the people of Iran on the eve of Jummat-ul-Vida. Imams and khateebs made passionate prayers for innocent civilians killed in continuous bombardment and also remembered the slain Iranian leadership, particularly Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose killing in a joint airstrike has triggered outrage across the Muslim world.
The developments in the Middle East have shocked many Kashmiris after coordinated US-Israeli strikes began on 28 February 2026 under a military operation targeting senior Iranian leaders and strategic infrastructure. Reports confirm that the Supreme Leader of Iran was killed in an airstrike in Tehran, an event that dramatically escalated tensions and pushed the region towards a full-scale war.
The conflict has only intensified since then. Israeli and US strikes have continued across different parts of Iran, including energy installations and strategic sites, while Iran has launched retaliatory missile strikes on Israeli territory. The situation has now entered a dangerous phase with both sides targeting key infrastructure and military leadership, and fresh reports even today suggest more senior Iranian officials being killed in ongoing airstrikes.
Against this backdrop, special prayers were reportedly offered in several Sunni mosques in Kashmir during Jummat-ul-Vida, where imams appealed for unity of the Muslim Ummah and prayed for the safety of Iranian Muslims. Worshippers described the atmosphere as deeply emotional, with repeated duas being made for peace and for the end of the bombardment which, according to reports, has already resulted in heavy civilian losses and massive destruction.
What has surprised many observers is that the prayers were not limited to one sect. Despite political and ideological differences in the past, Sunni clerics in several mosques openly prayed for Iran and condemned the attacks, calling the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei a major turning point in the Muslim world. Religious scholars also invoked the historical significance of Jummat-ul-Vida, saying the last Friday of Ramadan has always been associated with prayers for the oppressed and victims of war.
The emotional response in Kashmir reflects a broader reaction across different parts of India where protests, condolence gatherings, and prayer meetings have already been reported following the killing of the Iranian leader and the intensification of the war. Analysts believe the ongoing conflict between Iran, Israel, and the United States could reshape the geopolitical balance in the Middle East and also trigger strong emotional reactions in Muslim communities worldwide.
