IIOJK Grand Mufti rejects BJP-backed Waqf Board directive on Friday sermons
Srinagar: Grand Mufti of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam has objected to the BJP-controlled Waqf Board’s decision to prescribe topics for Friday sermons.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam said religious pulpits must remain free from political messaging. He stressed that Friday sermons were essential to Islamic guidance and must follow Shariah, Islamic principles and religious responsibilities.
In a statement issued in Srinagar, he said decisions affecting sermon content required careful consideration and consultation with established Islamic authorities.
The Grand Mufti maintained that religious teachings should not serve the interests of any political party or organisation. He stressed that the independence of religious institutions and sanctity of the pulpit must be protected.
Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam also said the Waqf’s administrative role did not grant it unrestricted authority over religious discourse.
“We will not remain silent when matters of Shariah and religious autonomy are affected by decisions taken without adequate consultation,” he said.
He added that the pulpit should remain a source of spiritual guidance, moral responsibility and service to humanity, rather than political messaging.
The controversy has raised concerns over the autonomy of religious institutions in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, National Conference chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq also demanded the withdrawal of the order. He questioned the BJP’s authority to dictate what Imams and Khateebs should say during Friday congregations.
Sadiq said religious scholars spent years studying the Quran and Hadith. They should frame sermons according to Islamic teachings and society’s prevailing challenges, he maintained.
“I am not an Islamic scholar, but an ordinary person who attends Friday prayers. I want to learn something about Islam and my religion. I do not want a letter from the BJP telling imams what they have to read,” he said. He argued that worshippers attended Friday prayers to deepen their understanding of Islam. Sermons should address their religious and social concerns rather than follow prescribed instructions.
