Srinagar, Oct 10: The Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board has decided to constitute a core committee of religious scholars to finalise common themes for Friday sermons across mosques, shrines and other religious institutions under its administration, aiming to promote coordinated religious messaging and address pressing social issues.
In a statement, the decision was taken during a meeting of Muftis, Imams, Khateebs and other religious scholars chaired by Waqf BoardChairperson Dr Syed Darakhshan Andrabi at the Board’s central office in Sonwar, Srinagar, on Saturday.
Under the proposed arrangement, the committee, as per the statement, will identify and finalise topics for Friday (Juma) sermons in advance and communicate them to religious scholars associated with Waqf-managed institutions across Jammu and Kashmir.
“The initiative aims to bring greater consistency to the subjects addressed during Friday congregational prayers,particularly those relating to religious awareness, moral responsibility, social harmony and the eradication of social evils,” reads the statement.
Speaking at the meeting, Andrabi said the decision was intended to bring Imams from different sects together on a common platform to strengthen religious values and promote social reform.
“This is a decision to bring Imams across sects together to strengthen faith, reform society, uphold humanity and eradicate social evils,” she said.
The Board said the proposed committee would focus on selecting subjects of public and community interest in accordance with Islamic teachings, while encouraging religious scholars to address contemporary social concerns through their sermons.
The meeting also discussed the need for closer coordination among religious institutions and the role of religious scholars in promoting unity, responsible conduct and mutual understanding within society.
According to the Board, the common themes will be communicated in advance to the concerned Imams and Khateebs for incorporation into their Friday sermons.
The decision applies to religious institutions associated with the Waqf Board and does not extend to all mosques and religious institutions across Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting was attended by Waqf Board members Dr Ghulam Haleem and Syed Mohammad Hussain Haqani, besides religious scholars from different districts of Kashmir.
The Board said the initiative was intended to strengthen coordination among religious scholars and encourage Friday sermons that address shared social concerns.
However, the Board has not yet announced the composition of the core committee, the date of its formation or the first set of common sermon themes.
The proposed system will introduce advance coordination of sermon topics across Waqf-associated institutions, with the committee responsible for determining the subjects to be addressed during Friday congregations.
