J&K Waqf Board pushes for uniform Friday sermons, ‘preachers’ committee to decide topics in advance’

The J&K Waqf Board has pushed for uniform Friday sermons at all mosques in the Union Terrorist (UT) and will become the first region in the country to adopt this mechanism to ensure the topics to be highlighted at religious places are pre-decided and approved by a committee of preachers.  

“Almost 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),” Ishtiyaq Mohi-ud-Din, an Executive Magistrate at the Board, told hundreds of preachers who attended the Waqf meeting in a virtual mode from different districts of J&K on Sunday.

He asked the religious leaders to also suggest ways to bring non-Waqf-affiliated mosques into the fold. “That remains a huge chunk (of mosques) and suggestions (from the religious leaders) are sought on that,” said Mr. Mohi-ud-Din. 

It’s a rare bid by the Waqf to bring uniformity in sermons, which otherwise would often drift towards global and local political issues in the past. Friday sermons delivered in all mosques in J&K have two parts, where a preacher delves upon a contemporary issue and also recites the sermons delivered by Prophet Muhammad. It is followed by congregational prayers attended in large numbers in J&K. 

Delving into the mechanism, senior BJP leader and Board chairperson Syed Darakhshan Andrabi said, “Sermons are about faith, society and the future of this place. There will be no changes in ‘Khutba Rasool’ (sermons of the Prophet). However, for the greater good, the Imam and Khateebs (religious preachers) will speak on issues in one voice, whether it’s drugs, women, waywardness, women’s issues etc.”

She underlined that a committee of religious scholars would get to decide on the topics. “The chairperson and officials will have no role in it. The committee will decide what topics should be touched upon in the sermons,” said Ms. Andrabi.

Prominent religious scholars like Abdul Rashid Dawoodi and Maulana R. H Noorabadi also attended the meeting.