Politics · India · 1 hr ago
J&K leaders oppose plan for uniform Friday sermons
Jammu & Kashmir leaders are opposing a proposal for uniform Friday sermons in mosques linked to the region’s Waqf Board.
The proposal would have a committee choose sermon topics in advance and share them with imams.
Waqf Board chairperson Darakhshan Andrabi said scholars and imams proposed the idea, citing concerns such as drug abuse, suicide and late marriages.
She said the board had issued no order or directive on the matter.
Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq rejected the proposal, saying religious guidance should not be controlled by state-linked bodies or politicians.
The dispute matters because it concerns who decides what is said in sermons and whether a religious body should have a role in that decision.
The J&K Waqf Board’s proposal for uniform Friday sermons has drawn opposition from political leaders and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.
Omar Abdullah called the proposal an attempt by the BJP to interfere in Muslims’ religious affairs.
Mehbooba Mufti said Waqf administration in J&K should be transferred to the elected government.
Darakhshan Andrabi said no Waqf Board order had been issued and that religious scholars proposed the sermons to address social problems.
Mirwaiz said religious guidance is the domain of Islamic scholars and imams, not state-linked bodies.
- Who
- J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq oppose the proposal. Waqf Board chairperson Darakhshan Andrabi defended the scholars’ initiative.
- What
- A proposal to set common topics for Friday sermons at Waqf-managed institutions and other mosques in J&K.
- When
- A meeting proposing the initiative was held on Saturday. The article was published on October 14, 2026.
- Where
- Jammu & Kashmir.
- Why
- Andrabi said the proposed sermons would address social problems including drug abuse, suicide and late marriages. Critics said the proposal would interfere in religious affairs.
Political critics
Darakhshan Andrabi and the religious scholars supporting the proposal
Interference
Political critics
Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti say the initiative interferes in Muslims’ religious affairs.
Darakhshan Andrabi and the religious scholars supporting the proposal
Andrabi says qualified Muslim scholars proposed the sermons and politicians should stay out of the matter.
Authority
Political critics
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq says religious guidance belongs to ulema and imams, not state-linked bodies.
Darakhshan Andrabi and the religious scholars supporting the proposal
Andrabi says religious scholars and imams proposed the initiative; she said the Waqf Board issued no order or directive.
Purpose
Political critics
Critics object to imposing uniformity in religious practice.
Darakhshan Andrabi and the religious scholars supporting the proposal
Andrabi says common sermon topics could address social evils such as drug abuse, suicide and late marriages.
Darakhshan Andrabi chaired a meeting of muftis, imams and religious scholars that proposed forming a committee to select Friday sermon topics in advance.
The Times of India reported opposition to the proposal from Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.
- Proposed committee
- To identify and finalise Friday sermon topics in advance
- Meeting attendance
- Around 1,500 imams and Islamic scholars, according to Andrabi
- Proposed topics
- Drug abuse, suicide and late marriages
- Waqf Board position
- Andrabi said the board had issued no order or directive on the issue
- Article publication
- October 14, 2026
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What people are saying
This is an unacceptable attempt by BJP to interfere in the religious affairs of Muslims and will not be accepted under any circumstances.
This is the BJP’s agenda to harass Muslims. They want to interfere in our religious affairs.
All imams and preachers had assembled and there was no role of the Waqf board officials in it,
The religious guidance is the domain of ulema and imams, not state-linked bodies.