WAJAHAT SHABIR
SRINAGAR: A proposal by the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board to introduce uniform Friday sermon themes across mosques and religious institutions affiliated with it has triggered a political and religious controversy, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and several religious and political figures opposing the move.
As per the reports, a month ago, a directive was issued to all the preachers to have a common khutba (sermon) at all places (of worship). One topic will be selected and the same topic will be highlighted (in the mosques.
Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah termed the proposal “unacceptable”, accusing the BJP of interfering in the religious affairs of Muslims and calling upon the Waqf Board chairperson to withdraw the initiative.
In a post on X, Omar said, “This is an unacceptable attempt by the BJP to interfere in the religious affairs of Muslims and will not be accepted under any circumstances. The BJP appointed Chairperson must immediately halt this misplaced attempt to please her masters.”
“Jammu and Kashmir has become a laboratory for the BJP. First, such measures are tested here and then implemented across the country,” Mehbooba said, drawing parallels between the proposed uniform Friday sermons and the BJP’s push for a Uniform Civil Code.
She questioned the authority of the Waqf Board and the Union government to determine the content of Friday sermons, saying religious scholars and Imams were best placed to address the concerns of their respective communities.
“These are our mosques, built with the money of our people. Our Imams and Maulvis know what to say and when to say it. Who will decide what Khutba our Imam should deliver on Friday?” she asked.
Mehbooba alleged that the BJP was attempting to interfere in Muslim religious affairs through administrative decisions and questioned the role of the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs in matters concerning Islamic practices. “Our Minority Affairs Minister is a non-Muslim. What does he know about Islam and Muslims? Yet, they continue to issue one order after another,” she said.
The PDP chief argued that Friday sermons could not be standardised because religious and social concerns differed from one locality to another.
People’s Conference president and Handwara MLA Sajad Lone on Tuesday criticised the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board’s move to pre-vet and decide Friday sermons through a committee, calling it a direct interference in religious freedom and the autonomy of the pulpit.
In a post on X, MLA Sajad Lone said, The pulpit belongs to faith, not government micromanagement. Hands off our mosques.
The People’s Conference chief’s remarks come amid a growing debate over the regulation of Friday sermons in the Union Territory, with critics arguing that such oversight amounts to unwarranted interference in the functioning of religious institutions.
Grand Mufti Jammu & Kashmir, Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam has expressed strong objection to the decision of the Waqf authorities to prescribe a particular subject for Friday sermons delivered by Imams and Khateebs.
In a statement issued, Grand Mufti J&K said that religious sermons are an integral part of Islamic guidance and must be approached with due regard for Shariah, the principles of Islam, and the religious responsibilities of Imams and Khateebs.
He said any directive concerning the content of Friday sermons requires careful consideration, consultation with established Islamic authorities. He said that Shariah is not a platform for political propaganda, nor should the pulpit be used to advance the agenda of any political party or organisation.
He also said that matters concerning Islamic teachings and religious guidance must not become instruments of political influence. The autonomy of religious institutions and the dignity of the pulpit must be respected, he said. Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam Farooqi emphasised that the Waqf’s administrative responsibilities should not be construed as an unrestricted mandate to determine religious discourse.
“We will not remain silent when matters of Shariah and religious autonomy are affected by decisions taken without adequate consultation. The pulpit must remain a source of spiritual guidance, moral responsibility and service to humanity—not an instrument of political messaging,” Grand Mufti J&K added.
Jammu and Kashmir cabinet minister Javid Dar on Tuesday criticised the Waqf Board over its move to prescribe uniform Friday sermons across mosques, saying the Board’s mandate is to manage waqf properties and not to dictate religious discourse. In a statement issued here, minister Dar said the Constitution of India guarantees freedom of religion and stressed that the chairperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board must respect these constitutional safeguards.
“Any attempt to impose uniform Friday sermons across mosques raises serious concerns about interference in religious affairs and undermines the secular spirit of our Constitution,” he said.
Later in the afternoon, Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board chairperson Darakhshan Andrabi denied issuing any order making uniform Friday sermons mandatory, following a controversy over the proposed move that drew opposition from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Andrabi said religious scholars and preachers were free to decide the content of their sermons and that the Board had issued no directive imposing a common khutba, or Friday sermon.
“There is no order. There is no order anywhere,” she said, rejecting allegations that the initiative sought to regulate religious discourse. Andrabi said religious scholars had discussed social concerns, including drug abuse and problems faced by young people, and expressed willingness to address such issues through their sermons. She said the proposed initiative was intended to tackle social problems and that scholars would independently decide what to preach.
