SRINAGAR: The Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU) Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday adopted two resolutions on social challenges, environmental responsibility and unity within the Muslim Ummah at a conference chaired by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq here.
The One-Day Ulema Meet and Seerat Conference, held after a gap of more than two years following the authorities’ permission to convene the gathering, was attended by more than 70 Ulema and Mashaikh from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Religious scholars from different districts of Kashmir, as well as Jammu, Poonch, Rajouri, Kargil and Doda, participated in the conference, which discussed religious, moral and societal challenges facing the people.
The first resolution expressed concern over drug and substance abuse, suicides and self-harm, mental health challenges among youth, irresponsible use of social media, weakening family bonds and environmental degradation.
The conference stressed the need for Ulema, mosques and madrasas to play a greater role in addressing these issues, particularly by providing support to young people and families facing emotional distress.
On suicides and self-harm, the participants said condemnation or silence would not resolve the problem. They called for safe spaces where people could speak about loneliness, anxiety, family pressures and other difficulties without fear of stigma.
The resolution urged Imams and Ulema to sensitise communities about signs of emotional distress, encourage compassionate responses from families and guide those in need towards professional counselling and mental health support.
It also proposed that mosques and madrasas increasingly serve as centres of guidance, youth engagement, family support and community welfare, while recognising the need for trained professionals in cases of serious mental health concerns.
Common Friday sermons proposed
The MMU decided to take up a common social issue in Friday sermons across participating mosques on designated Fridays, with the aim of encouraging coordinated awareness and reform efforts throughout Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
It also proposed regular meetings, preferably every month, in different districts and areas to bring together local Ulema, Imams, mosques and madrasas and develop responses to local concerns.
On drug addiction, the conference called for a consistent approach to tackling all forms of addiction. It expressed concern over the simultaneous promotion and expansion of alcohol availability in the name of tourism.
The participants said efforts to combat narcotics and substance abuse would be undermined if new liquor licences were issued and alcohol availability expanded. They called upon the government to reconsider the approach and stop further promotion and expansion of alcohol.
Concern over water bodies
The resolution also called for greater environmental awareness through Friday sermons and mosque-based programmes.
The Ulema urged people to avoid plastic and polythene, littering and dumping garbage into rivers, lakes and other water bodies. They also stressed the need to prevent encroachment and destruction of wetlands.
Concern was expressed over the condition and protection of Dal Lake, Wular Lake, Nigeen Lake, wetlands and other water bodies. The conference said cleanliness, conservation of nature and protection of shared natural resources were also moral and religious responsibilities.
Call for sectarian harmony
The second resolution focused on unity within the Muslim Ummah and mutual respect among different schools of thought.
The conference acknowledged that differences of Maslak and religious interpretation had existed within the Ummah and would continue to exist, but stressed that such differences should not become a source of hatred, hostility or division.
The participants said the Mimbar of the mosque was an Amanah, or sacred trust, and should not be used to promote sectarianism, ridicule another Maslak or spread hatred.
The resolution called upon Ulema of different schools of thought to promote dialogue, mutual respect and brotherhood while focusing religious discourse on shared moral, spiritual and social responsibilities.
The proposed district-level meetings would also seek to strengthen communication and cooperation among religious scholars, mosques and madrasas across the region.
The conference said the role of Ulema and religious institutions should not remain confined to ritual matters at a time when society faces serious challenges, particularly those affecting young people.
The MMU said the gathering should mark the beginning of sustained grassroots engagement, including coordinated Friday sermons, district-level interaction, counselling and community awareness programmes.
Those who attended included Moulana Rehmat-ullah Mir Qasmi, Mufti Azam Nasir ul Islam Farooqi, Mufti Nazir Ahmad Qasmi, Mufti Mohammad Yaqoob Baba Madani, Moulana Masroor Abbas Ansari, Moulana Showkat Hussain Keng, Mufti Enayat Ullah Jammu, Sheikh Mehboob Ali Wajdani of Kargil, Mufti Abdul Rashid Miftahi, Pir Rehmatullah Sahib, Moulana Syed Tayyub, Mufti Syed Sharief Ul Haq Bukhari, Mufti Ajaz ul Hassan Banday, Mufti Zia ul Haq Nazmi, Mufti Pirzada Reyaz Ahmad, Moulana Adnan Nadwi, Sibt Mohammad Shabir Qumi, Moulana Ghulam Rasool Noori, Moulana Ali Akbar, Moulana Syed Shah Waris Shah Bukhari and Pir Iftikhar Ahmad Kamli, among others.
