Religious places are meant to be sanctuaries of peace, equality, and compassion. A mosque holds a sacred place in the lives of Muslims—not only as a space for prayer but as a center for community bonding, spiritual healing, and moral guidance. In Kashmir, where faith is deeply interwoven with daily life, mosques are central to social and religious identity. Yet, beneath this spiritual beauty lies a difficult and often ignored reality: many of our mosques are not senior citizen friendly.

This issue is not merely about infrastructure; it is about dignity, inclusion, and understanding. For elderly worshippers, visiting the mosque should be a source of comfort and fulfillment. Instead, for many, it has become a struggle marked by physical hardship and emotional discomfort.

One of the most troubling aspects is the lack of sensitivity toward the physical limitations of older people. Aging naturally brings challenges such as joint pain, reduced mobility, and chronic illnesses. Islam, as a religion, provides flexibility and ease in such situations. Despite this, there are instances where cultural rigidity overrides religious compassion.

A deeply moving example of this issue comes from a personal experience shared by my elderly father. One Friday, as he joined the congregation, he noticed another elderly man sitting on a chair. The man appeared frail and was clearly unable to stand for long due to severe knee pain. Like many elderly individuals, he had brought a chair so that he could perform his prayers with some comfort and dignity.

The  imam addressed the congregation. During his remarks, he stated that offering prayer on a chair was not acceptable. The words echoed through the mosque, and their effect was immediate. My father observed that the elderly man, without uttering a single word, quietly got down from the chair and sat on the floor. It was evident that this was not easy for him. Throughout the prayer, he struggled to complete each movement. His face reflected discomfort, and his body seemed unable to cope with the physical strain. Yet, he continued silently—perhaps out of respect, perhaps out of hesitation, or perhaps out of fear of being judged. For my father, who himself understands the challenges of aging, the moment was deeply unsettling. He could see not just the physical pain of the man, but also the quiet humiliation he endured. The mosque, which should have been a place of ease and spiritual peace, had become a space of silent suffering. What followed made the........

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