Calls for an End to Restrictions and Hurdles in Fulfilling Religious Responsibilities
Srinagar, January 3: Addressing the faithful at Jama Masjid Srinagar after a gap of 4 weeks, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said that “As I stand before you on this sacred pulpit of Jama Masjid, it is a moment of sadness, as the uncertainty surrounding my presence here continues to weigh heavily upon me and upon all of us as a community.
He said that it is very disturbing that every Friday, we are left wondering whether I will be allowed to fulfill my responsibilities as the Mirwaiz of Kashmir. This uncertainty is not just about me—it affects our entire community, which looks to this pulpit for guidance on matters of faith and on issues and challenges facing them.
To the authorities, Mirwaiz said that they must understand the concept of Friday prayers at Jama Masjid is not merely about the physical act of offering prayers. As the Mirwaiz, seen as Naib e Rasool (SAW), it is my duty to utilise this pulpit to call attention to issues that affect our society—be they of religious, political, social, or economic nature, and provide guidance in the light of Islamic teachings and values and on moral principles.
When I speak about the shortcomings in governance or highlight the grievances of the people, it is not to provoke or create problems but, just like I call upon people to improve as humans, I also see it as my duty to urge the authorities to reflect and improve and address the issues.
The government must understand that silencing voices or locking me up at home will not resolve the challenges we face. Instead, it is through dialogue and a willingness to accommodate diverse views that we can move forward as a society.
I sincerely hope that from this day forward, this approach of creating hurdles and imposing restrictions will cease and I will be uninterruptedly allowed to fulfill my responsibilities.
