SRINAGAR — Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday returned to the historic Jama Masjid in Srinagar after nearly two weeks of house detention and addressed the Friday congregation, expressing concern over repeated restrictions on his religious and public activities.
Addressing the gathering, Mirwaiz said such restrictions cause inconvenience to people and amount to unwarranted interference in the discharge of his religious obligations.
He said the pulpit of Jama Masjid had always stood for upholding faith and speaking the truth while reflecting people’s concerns and rights, adding that he could not abandon this responsibility.
Mirwaiz also regretted the postponement of the first district-level meeting of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulama (MMU), which was scheduled to be held in Bandipora on November 4.
The meeting was intended to bring religious scholars together to discuss ways to address social and religious challenges, including drug abuse, social evils, youth suicides and environmental concerns, he said.
Such collective initiatives aimed at social reform should be encouraged rather than obstructed, Mirwaiz added.
He also welcomed the Kashmir Waza Association’s decision to regulate wedding feast timings, particularly its move to conclude late-night Wazwan dinners by 10 pm.
Describing the initiative as a positive step towards bringing discipline and simplicity to marriage celebrations, Mirwaiz said it also recognises the dignity and hard work of the Waza community. He assured the association of the MMU’s full support for such efforts.
However, he said more needed to be done to address extravagance, unnecessary additions to wedding customs, excessive spending and competitive displays of wealth, which had placed considerable financial and social burdens on families.
He urged people to preserve the beauty of Kashmiri traditions while abandoning wasteful practices and making marriages simpler, dignified and affordable in accordance with Islamic teachings. — (KIMS)