Jammu-Kashmir Waqf Board plans common theme for Friday sermons, Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti oppose

Islamic scholars have decided that preachers will address one common social cause during every Friday sermon in Jammu and Kashmir to create awareness and achieve better impact in dealing with it JK Waqf Board Chairperson Darakhshan Andrabi said on Tuesday drawing sharp reactions from political and religious leadersChief Minister Omar Abdullah and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti alleged that it was an attempt by the BJP to interfere in the religious affairs of MuslimsThe Mutahida MajliseUlema an amalgam of several religious and socioreligious organisations of Jammu and Kashmir headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq alleged that it was forcible state intrusion into the religious sphere which is against law and principles of freedom of religious practiceA meeting of Islamic scholars and preachers associated with the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board took place here on Saturday where the decision to have Friday sermons on social issues was takenAndrabi said that Islamic scholars ulema and religious guides have a duty to show the correct path beyond the ritual prayers while asserting it was a collective decision and there was no hidden agenda or official government decreeThe Friday sermon khutbah is delivered teachings of the Holy Prophet PBUH are imparted What our religion teaches us about community brotherhood and humanity and that there should be no evils in society is what we have been hearing almost since childhood It was collectively decided by Islamic scholars that dealing with social issues is a common cause Andrabi told PTIShe said most mosques and shrines are under the jurisdiction of the Waqf Board and the educated intellectually conscious Imams are associated with itThis was everyones collective concern it was not a unilateral decision imposed by usRather religious scholars and prominent intellectuals from across Jammu and Kashmir assembled here and made this decision With societal evils rising why shouldnt a Friday sermon universally emphasise eradicating these social ills Why shouldnt this be addressed uniformly she saidMirwaiz Umar Farooq Sahib himself stated in his Friday sermon from Jamia Masjid about the need to address the social evils We felt glad that he also spoke of religion and social evils noting that all Imams across all mosques should show a new direction to Jammu and Kashmir she addedShe said that the leaders criticising the decision should first understand the factsThis is not decided by Darakhshan Andrabi or officials but rather by the religious leaders who genuinely guide people on the path of religion she said adding politicians have no right to immediately start tweeting before even listening to the factsHowever Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that the BJPappointed Waqf chairperson must immediately halt the misplaced attempt to please her mastersThis is an unacceptable attempt by the BJP to interfere in the religious affairs of Muslims and will not be accepted under any circumstances The BJPappointed Chairperson must immediately halt this misplaced attempt to please her masters Abdullah said on his personal handle on XFormer chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said the move was yet another interference in our religion and faithUnfortunately it is the BJPs agenda to harass Muslims and interfere with their religion Just like the Uniform Civil Code they want to bring uniformity here as well she told reporters hereShe claimed Jammu and Kashmir has been turned into a laboratory for the BJP and the order calling for uniformity in Friday sermons serves as a testing groundFirst it is tested in the laboratory and then it is implemented across the entire country Jammu and Kashmir is a Muslimmajority state Who are they to decide what sermon our Molvis and Imams will deliver on FridaysWho will decide this Will our Minority Affairs Minister who is a nonMuslim decide it Who will make this decisionLook it is through these mosques through these scholars and Molvis that Islam was spread here and taken to every home Every region has its own local issues Sometimes an incident happens in a particular area and the Molvi sahib addresses it during the Friday sermon So how can you mandate that every sermon must be identical she addedShe called for handing the Waqf Board to the Jammu and Kashmir governmentAfter that the Mutahida MajliseUlema formed under Molvi Umar Farooq if a decision on sermons has to be taken they should make it as they have the authority He is our Mirwaiz hereHow can we accept that a nonMuslim minister sitting in Delhi or the Waqf Board currently controlled by the BJP which has nothing to do with the Muslims here dictates this This is unacceptable Totally unacceptable the PDP chief addedIn a statement the MMU said that even the suggestion that a statutory body could determine or regulate what is to be preached from the Mimbar is ridiculous and will never be accepted by the Muslims of Jammu and KashmirThe state or government cannot assume for itself the authority to determine religious discourse and scripted speech to be delivered or interfere in matters of faith and religious practice it saidIt amounts to forcible state intrusion into the religious sphere which is against law and principles of freedom of religious practice it addedThe amalgam asked the Waqf Board to remain within its administrative responsibility of management maintenance and protection of the Waqf properties entrusted to it rather than come up with such a devious agenda and unnecessary controversyThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever