Srinagar, July 15: An important meeting of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulama (MMU) the representative umbrella body of major Sunni and Shia religious organisations in Jammu & Kashmir was held in Srinagar to address the recent provocative and deeply irresponsible statements made by Mr Imran Raza Ansari, the strong public response it evoked, and its social media fallout.
The meeting was attended by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam, Aga Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi, Molana Masroor Abbas Ansari, Aga Syed Mohammad Hadi ,Mufti Nazir Ahmad Qasmi, Molana Showkat Keng, Mufti Mohammad Yaqoob Baba and Maulana Rahmatullah Qassimi who joined in later.
The MMU unanimously reaffirmed that the sanctity and honour of the revered Companions of the Prophet ﷺ (Sahaba) and the Ahl al-Bayt (the Prophet’s noble family) is a foundational belief of faith shared by all Muslims. These noble personalities are the pillars of our faith, and no disrespect, provocation, or disparagement towards them will be tolerated from any quarter.
While acknowledging theological diversity within the Ummah, the MMU emphasised that such differences must never be used as a pretext for division or disrespect. The unity of Muslims in Kashmir built on centuries of coexistence, mutual respect and shared religious heritage is a religious and moral obligation. Any attempt to disrupt this unity will be met with firm resistance.
The MMU welcomed the principled stance of senior Shia scholars, including Aga Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi, Molvi Masroor Abbas Ansari, and Aga Syed Mohammad Hadi Al-Moosvi, who made it clear that the statements made by Mr Imran Raza Ansari are entirely his personal views and do not reflect the the teachings and ethos of Shia school of thought. Such remarks are strictly forbidden by leading Shia Maraji, including Mohtaram Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Mohtaram Ayatollah Ali Sistani.
To address the matter responsibly and prevent the repeat of such attempts in future , it was decided that a panel will be constituted under the chairmanship of Mufti Azam Jammu & Kashmir Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam. This panel will summon Mr Imran Raza Ansari to seek a clarification on his statements regarding the Sahaba (RA). It will also summon Individuals who also indulged in using inappropriate language regarding the Ahl al-Bayt on social media and other platforms. The panel will comprise of Aga Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi, Mufti Nazir Ahmad Qasmi, Aga Syed Mohammad Hadi, and Mufti Mohammad Yaqoob Baba.
MMU also urged all Imams, Khateebs, and preachers across sects to be very responsible while delivering sermons and desist from using the pulpit to attack or criticise other schools of thought, and to actively promote unity, mutual respect, and the shared values of Islam. Each group or maslak is free to follow its beliefs and practices within its own traditions, but without criticism or condemnation of others
It reiterated that individuals or group found violating these principles will face boycotts, as preserving the unity and dignity of the Muslim community is a sacred and non-negotiable duty.
A broader session of all MMU constituent organisations will be convened in the coming days to reinforce these decisions and ensure their implementation across the religious landscape of the Valley.
In conclusion, the MMU called upon all scholars, preachers, and the wider Muslim community of Kashmir to act with wisdom, restraint, and responsibility. The honour of the Sahaba and the Ahl al-Bayt is a red line. The unity of the Ummah is a trust we must all uphold.
