J&K Waqf Board reverses plan for pre-decided Friday sermons

The Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board has stepped back from its earlier proposal to establish a committee for pre-deciding topics for Friday sermons across the region. Chairperson Darakshan Andrabi made the clarification just two days after the board first proposed the uniformity measure, emphasizing that religious scholars and preachers would retain autonomy over sermon content.

Under the revised position, individual preachers at mosques will continue to decide what topics they address during Friday congregational prayers, rather than following pre-determined guidelines set by a government-appointed committee. Andrabi's statement represents a significant retreat from the initial proposal, which had drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties.

Opposition leaders had voiced concerns that the original plan constituted government interference in religious affairs and compromised the independence of religious institutions. The controversy highlighted sensitivities around state involvement in matters of faith and religious practice in the union territory.

The Waqf Board's reversal underscores the delicate balance authorities must maintain when addressing organizational matters within religious communities. The clarification seeks to reassure stakeholders that while the board may oversee administrative aspects of religious endowments, decisions on religious discourse remain the domain of qualified scholars and community leaders.