Srinagar: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Monday said that New Delhi should change its stance and revisit initiatives with regard to Jammu and Kashmir.
Talking to the media persons here, Mirwaiz as per the news agency KNO said that violence and atrocities can never resolve any issue and that dialogue is the only way forward.
He added that Srinagar’s Jama Masjid has always pitched for dialogue. “The new government has taken over in Jammu and Kashmir after recent elections, but its role is limited. This government has to fulfill its promises about electricity, roads and water, etc., but as far as the political situation of Kashmir is concerned, New Delhi has to change its stance as it needs to understand that the people of J&K don’t want bloodshed to continue.
“We want the (Kashmir) issue to be resolved and don’t want the bloodshed and other things to happen. The present ceasefire (along the LoC) pact has brought relief to the people, but at the same time, we want both the countries to take this initiative forward and start trade again and resume the bus service as well,” he said.
Mirwaiz also said that had the situation been normal between the two nations, he could have gone to visit the family in Pakistan when his relative died two weeks back.
He also said that they have already written to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) and sought their time to put forth its suggestions. “We are hopeful that we will get a time to meet the committee and put forth our suggestions,” he said.
Mirwaiz also said that Waqf is completely a religious issue and it’s fine to make some amendments but the way the new Waqf Act has been brought, it is totally unacceptable. The opposition as well as the parties in the NDA government should also come up with clear policies to reject the Act, he said.
Mirwaiz also said that it is good to see the people taking initiatives to revive the arts and crafts in Kashmir, and urged the people involved in it to pursue these trades honestly by ensuring quality.
In a sermon delivered at a mosque in the Bota Kadal area of Srinagar, Mirwaiz underscored the profound importance of Haqooq-uI-ibaad—the mutual rights and responsibilities among human beings.
He emphasized that Islam extends beyond rituals and worship, such as prayer and fasting, to encompass the way individuals interact with and treat one another.
Speaking to a large congregation, Mirwaiz highlighted the gravity of neglecting the rights of others. He explained that while acts of worship such as performing prayers, paying Zakat, and fasting are important, they alone do not guarantee entry into Jannah (Paradise). “If we fall short in our duties to Allah, He may forgive us out of His mercy. However, when we wrong others or neglect their rights, forgiveness must come directly from those we have wronged,” he said, clarifying a key tenet of Islamic teachings.
He urged the faithful to uphold principles of justice, dignity, and kindness in all aspects of life, noting that these values are central to faith.
Mirwaiz called for a balanced approach, encouraging the community to equally prioritize their obligations toward Allah (Haqooq-ul-Allah) and their responsibilities toward fellow human beings (Haqooq-ul-ibad). He stressed that living a life grounded in justice, compassion, and mutual respect is integral to true faith and spiritual success. (KNO)
