The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU) Jammu and Kashmir, headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, sternly warned elements trying to harm communal amity and unity in Jammu and Kashmir by stoking sectarian tensions here.

MMU has emphasized that the urgent need of the hour is to focus on the fundamental teachings and principles of Islam during their sermons and discourses for the sake of greater unity among Muslims.

"MMU makes a fervent appeal to the scholars, preachers, khateebs and imams of different schools of thought that while they follow their own school of thought and creed in practice, in public gatherings, on pulpits and mihrabs of mosques, meetings and in gatherings, they should desist from criticising others following a different maslak, and instead focus on universal and fundamental teachings of Islam," it said in a statement.

The statement added, "They should also highlight and educate the masses about the serious social and moral issues faced by Kashmiri society and play their role in the all-round reform of society. The malicious intentions of anti-Islam and anti-unity elements can only be defeated through unity among the religious preachers and their followers."

"Those who still continue with such a mindset to promote sectarianism will be exposed in public and held accountable," the Majlis-e-Ulema warned.

Meanwhile, MMU appealed to all imams of masjids, scholars, heads of religious institutions and the general public to organise ‘Namaz-e-Istisqa’ on Friday and pray to Almighty Allah at individual and collective levels for rain and respite from the harsh weather. In this regard, Namaz-e-Istisqa will also be held at Jamia Masjid Srinagar after Friday prayers.

Majlis-e-Ulema includes the Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid Srinagar, Darul Uloom Raheemiyah Bandipora, Mufti Azam’s Muslim Personal Law Board, Anjuman-e-Shari'a Shia, Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith, Jamaat-e-Islami, Karvaan-e-Islami, Ittehad-e-Muslimeen, Anjuman Himayat-ul-Islam, Anjuman Tabligh-ul Islam, Jamiat Hamdaniya, Anjuman Ulema Ahnaf, Darul Uloom Qasmia, Darul Uloom Bilalia, Anjuman Nusrat-ul-Islam, Anjuman Mazhar-ul-Haq, Jamiat Imam-ul-Ulema, Anjuman Imam-o-Mashaikh Kashmir, Dar-ul-Uloom Naqshbandiyya, Dar-ul-Uloom Rashidia, Ahl-e-Bayt Foundation, Kanz-ul-Uloom, Karavaan-e-Khatam-e-Nabuwat and the leaders of other contemporary religious, milli, social and educational associations.

SRINAGAR — Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU) Jammu and Kashmir on Monday expressed serious concern and strongly condemned the incident that took place in Masjid Sharief of Zadoora village in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, on the night of June 23 and 24, wherein the personnel of the Army’s 50 Battalion Rashtriya Rifles harassed the local people and beat up some residents, forcing them to raise non-Muslim slogans from the mosque.

In a statement, the MMU said the silence maintained by the authorities in this regard is unacceptable. It asked them to clarify their position in this regard as the religious sentiments of Muslims of J&K have been badly hurt and people are shocked.

The MMU expressed concern over the fact that the government-backed institutions in Jammu and Kashmir are increasingly interfering with the management and working of mosques, shrines, Imambaras and other religious institutions, saying this is causing distress which needs to be addressed.

MMU also called for the immediate and unconditional release of the MMU patron Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq who has been under arbitrary detention for the last four years, and other imprisoned religious leaders and preachers, before the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Azha.

The Majlis-e-Ulema announced that a state-wide meeting will be convened after Eid-ul-Azha for a comprehensive review of religious and societal challenges facing the Muslims of J&K and how to address them.

SRINAGAR — Proficient and well-known Islamic scholar Maulana Rehmatullah Mir Qasmi, who runs Darul Uloom Raheemiyyah Bandipora, appeared before National Investigation Agency (NIA) after the probe agency summoned him in an alleged militancy funding case.

Earlier, National Investigation Agency summoned Maulana Rehmatullah Mir Qasmi informing him that they are investigating the case pertaining to the raising of funds by Jamat-e-Islami in Jammu and Kashmir and further utilizing these funds for ‘committing unlawful acts to radicalize the youth’ of Jammu and Kashmir.

"It appears that you are acquainted with the facts of this case. You are hereby directed to report at the NIA camp office Church Lane Sonwar Srinagar for the purpose of answering certain questions related to the case," reads the summon served to Maulana Qasmi.

Sources said that Qasmi presented himself before the probe agency. “What transpired during the questioning was not immediately known,” said a close aide of Qasmi.

Rahmatullah Mir Qasmi is a Kashmiri Islamic scholar, founder, and rector of Darul Uloom Raheemiyyah, one of the largest Islamic seminaries in Kashmir. He is a senior member of the managing committee of Darul Uloom Deoband, a founding member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and a member of the working body of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind.

MMU condemns NIA's summoning of Maulana Rehmatullah Mir Qasmi

Meanwhile, Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulama Jammu and Kashmir (MMU) has expressed serious concern over the summoning of its president and leading Islamic scholar Maulana Rehmatullah Mir Qasmi by NIA and termed it extremely sad.

MMU, in a statement, issued to to the news agency KNS said that Moulana Rehmatullah is not only a renowned Islamic scholar but also a sincere preacher of Islam who has dedicated himself to religious, educational and reformative services for our society.

It said that such actions are causing anxiety and anger among the people, and urged the government to put a stop to this.