Jammu, Feb 24: Dr Syed Darakhshan Andrabi, Chairperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board, Monday chaired a conclave of Imams and Khateebs in Jammu in preparation for the holy month of Ramadhan. The gathering, attended by prominent religious scholars, focused on arrangements for special prayers and maintaining harmony in religious discourse.
Notable attendees included Mufti Anyatullah Qasmi, Mufti Tabraiz Ahmad, Mufti Manzoor Ahmad, Molvi Mushtaq Ahmad, Molvi Rafiqi, Maulana Ubaidullah Tahir, Maulana Rashid Bashir, Maulana Nazakat Ali, Maulana Javed Mohammad, and Mufti Farooq Ahmad. Officers of the Waqf Board also participated in the deliberations.
Dr Andrabi urged religious leaders to avoid sectarian rhetoric and focus on the spiritual and moral teachings of Islam. She emphasised the responsibility of Imams and Khateebs in fostering a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere in mosques and shrines.
“The holy month of Ramadhan teaches us righteousness, sacrifice, and spiritual growth. Imams and Khateebs must be responsible in their sermons, ensuring that places of worship remain centres of peace and unity,” she stated. Expressing concern over divisive and derogatory content shared on so-cial media, Dr Andrabi condemned the misuse of religious platforms to spread discord. She called on religious scholars to collectively oppose such rhetoric and uphold societal harmony.
“It is unfortunate that some individuals use places of worship to propagate division and hatred. Reli-gious scholars must take a firm stand against such irresponsible behaviour,” she added. The conclave concluded with a renewed commitment to ensuring that Ramadhan remains a time of spiritual re-flection, communal harmony, and ethical preaching.
