Board says religious scholars free to choose Friday sermon topics, no directive issued

In response to rumors that the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board had ordered a uniform Friday sermon across the region, Chairman Darshan Andrabi affirmed that the board has never issued such an instruction. He stressed that independent clergy decide independently what to preach.

Andrabi explained that the board’s involvement is confined to maintaining mosque infrastructure, while theological matters remain the sole domain of scholars and speakers. He also clarified that the suggested core committee will be formed by religious leaders who will serve in an advisory capacity.

The board’s aim, he said, is to encourage imams to address societal ills that affect young people, including substance abuse, familial tensions, suicidal tendencies, and psychological trauma.

He concluded by urging politicians to respect the separation between religious guidance and state affairs and to prioritize policies that directly combat social evils.