Srinagar- In a significant development, Kashmiri civil society has urged Mirwaiz-i-Kashmir Umar Farooq, the Chairman of Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulama (MMU), to convene an urgent meeting for drafting qualifications and ethical guidelines for religious preachers delivering sermons from the sacred pulpit.
In a letter addressed to Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, prominent civil society member Shakeel Qalander, on behalf of the community, expressed deep concern over the rise of inflammatory and divisive rhetoric by certain preachers on social media. The letter highlights how these individuals have used religious platforms to promote personal agendas, disregarding the sentiments of various sects and threatening societal harmony.
“It has come to our notice with utmost pain that certain preachers have recently surfaced on social media and are using the sacred pulpit of the Holy Prophet ﷺ for personal publicity through highly provocative and inflammatory remarks,” the letter reads.
The appeal calls upon the MMU and allied religious bodies, including the J&K Muslim Personal Law Board, to take immediate measures, including:
- Drafting Qualifications & Ethical Guidelines for individuals addressing congregations in mosques, Imam Bargahs, and Khanqahs.
- Preventing the Use of Sacred Platforms by those who indulge in hate speech and ensuring the removal of their provocative content from social media.
- Urging Organizations to Disassociate from preachers spreading discord.
- Encouraging Patience & Responsible Engagement among scholars to prevent unnecessary escalation.
- Involving Government Agencies if required to curb the spread of inflammatory sermons.
“It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the sacred pulpit remains a source of knowledge, guidance, and unity for all. By establishing clear and strict guidelines regarding who is qualified to address the public from the pulpit, we can safeguard the peace and coexistence that our society holds dear,” the letter reads.
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