Kashmir Leaders Oppose Plan to Standardise Friday Sermons in Mosques

Kashmiri politicians and Muslim scholars have criticised a proposal to introduce uniform Friday sermons across mosques in Indian-administered Kashmir, describing it as an attempt to interfere with religious freedom.

The proposal by the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board has sparked controversy, with religious leaders questioning the authority of the board to determine what Muslim clerics should preach during Friday prayers.

The board, chaired by Darakhshan Andrabi, a leader associated with India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), announced the proposal as part of efforts to address social problems, including drug abuse and other challenges affecting the region.

Andrabi defended the initiative, explaining that a committee of senior Islamic scholars would be responsible for preparing and approving the sermons. She also maintained that government officials would not be involved in deciding their religious content.

However, several Muslim scholars expressed concern that the arrangement could restrict their independence and undermine established religious practices.

A scholar from Rajouri district, who participated in a meeting with the board online, told Al Jazeera that religious leaders had been instructed to deliver sermons prepared and approved by a designated committee.

According to the scholar, the participants were not informed about the identities of the committee members. He also alleged that objections raised during the meeting were dismissed.

The controversy intensified after the board reportedly summoned about 1,500 Muslim scholars and preachers from across the region to discuss the proposed arrangement.

Religious Leaders Reject Government Interference

Nayeem Akhtar, a senior politician and former education minister of Jammu and Kashmir, criticised the proposal, arguing that the board was exceeding its administrative responsibilities by attempting to direct religious preaching.

He maintained that Muslim clerics should have the freedom to address issues relevant to their congregations without unnecessary interference from political authorities.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Kashmir's leading Muslim religious figure, also warned that standardising Friday sermons could amount to direct interference in religious affairs.

The Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema, a coalition of Islamic organisations led by Farooq, argued that determining the content of religious sermons should remain the responsibility of Islamic scholars rather than an administrative institution.

Omar Abdullah, the elected head of Jammu and Kashmir, also joined the criticism.

Following the backlash, Andrabi reportedly clarified that independent scholars and preachers would retain the discretion to address social issues such as suicide, mental health challenges, substance abuse and other problems affecting society.

Kashmir's Religious Autonomy Debate

The dispute comes against the backdrop of longstanding political tensions in Kashmir.

In 2019, the Indian government revoked the region's semi-autonomous status and reorganised the former state into two federally administered territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

The change also affected the administration of Muslim religious endowments, known as waqf, bringing their management under a framework applicable across India.

Since then, local political and religious figures have repeatedly accused authorities of interfering in traditional Islamic institutions and practices.

In January, Muslim scholars reportedly raised concerns over a police exercise involving the collection of detailed information about mosque officials, including imams, muezzins and preachers.

Religious leaders have also criticised restrictions affecting worship at Srinagar's historic Jamia Masjid, which has reportedly been closed during significant Islamic occasions, including Eid prayers and Laylat al-Qadr.

Authorities have defended certain restrictions as necessary to maintain public order, while critics argue that such measures undermine the religious rights of Kashmiri Muslims.

Concerns Over Traditional Islamic Practices

The Waqf Board has faced criticism over other decisions affecting religious customs in the region.

In 2022, it reportedly banned the traditional collection of voluntary donations known as nazr-o-niyaz, which devotees give to religious figures and shrine attendants. The board cited applicable federal laws while introducing a system under which donations were collected through designated boxes.

It has also faced opposition over efforts to restrict the distribution of yellow rice at major shrines, a practice associated with Kashmir's longstanding Sufi traditions.

Political scientist and historian Noor Ahmad Baba said religion has historically played an important role in political mobilisation in Kashmir, making changes to traditional religious arrangements particularly sensitive.

He argued that proposals involving religious practices could attract less opposition if they emerged from widely accepted religious authorities rather than politically controversial institutions.

Although some observers acknowledge the importance of addressing social challenges such as drug addiction, they maintain that such efforts should respect religious independence and local traditions.

The controversy has therefore renewed debate over the relationship between government authority, religious institutions and freedom of worship in Indian-administered Kashmir.Alternative headline: Kashmir Muslim Scholars Resist Plan to Introduce Standardised Friday Sermons in Mosques.

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