A proposal to introduce common themes for Friday sermons at mosques and shrines managed by the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board has sparked strong opposition from religious leaders and political figures in Kashmir.
Critics say the plan could allow government influence over Muslim religious affairs and undermine the independence of Islamic scholars and imams in the predominantly Muslim region.
Syed Darakshan Andrabi, chairperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board and a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said the board had proposed forming a committee of Islamic scholars, muftis and imams to recommend topics for weekly Friday sermons, known as khutbahs.
The proposed themes would include social concerns such as drug abuse, suicide and what officials described as moral decline. Andrabi said religious leaders could use their sermons to encourage positive changes in society.
However, the plan drew criticism from the Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU), a coalition of Islamic scholars led by Kashmir's chief Muslim cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.
In a statement on 13 October, Farooq said Friday sermons were a sacred responsibility rooted in Islamic scholarship and should be guided by recognised religious authorities.
He argued that government bodies should not decide what religious leaders preach or interfere in matters of faith and religious practice.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also criticised the proposal, accusing the BJP of attempting to influence Muslim religious life. Shia cleric and politician Aga Muntazir Mehdi likewise warned the board against going beyond its administrative responsibilities.
Following the criticism, Andrabi clarified that no binding order had been issued and that the proposal was not imposed by the government. She said the committee's recommendations would not prevent imams from choosing their own sermon topics.
Andrabi also rejected claims that the initiative was intended to advance the BJP's political interests, maintaining that addressing social problems was a shared concern among religious scholars.
The Waqf Board manages Muslim religious and charitable properties, including mosques and shrines. Its responsibilities and authority have become sensitive issues in Kashmir, where religious identity and political control remain closely linked.
Islam has a long history in the region, dating back to the 14th century. The spread of the faith is often associated with Persian scholar and Sufi missionary Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani, who helped establish Islamic religious traditions across parts of Central and South Asia.
The Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board oversees properties dedicated to religious and charitable purposes under Islamic law. Official figures cited in the report indicate that the board generates more than 400 million rupees (approximately US$4.8 million) annually, largely through public donations.
The dispute over Friday sermons has highlighted wider concerns about the relationship between religious institutions and government authorities, as leaders debate how to address social problems while protecting religious independence.
Based on reporting by UCA News.
