The recent mapping and profiling of mosques and imams in Kashmir has caused a hue and cry. The controversy surrounding the verification and documentation of mosques and imams in Kashmir has triggered sharp political and social criticism. Criticising, arguing, and questioning any decision is the right of every citizen of India, but politicising religious issues leads to polarisation and conflict.
There are certain unavoidable questions that must be answered before we throw light on the mapping of mosques, especially for those who have turned this security issue into a religious-political one. Have we not witnessed loudspeakers in mosques in Kashmir being used openly and widely for radicalisation? Do Imams not preach radicalisation? What do we call radicalisation? Is it when anything beyond religion is preached in the masjid? Do they know who turned masjids into radical spaces, undermining their religious importance? Have they ever respected the protocol of the masjid?
Masjid Sharief is a highly revered place where no one is allowed to enter without absolution, as per Shariah. One has to be in a humble manner to offer prayers. A loud voice is entirely not allowed. It is a place of peace, dignity, and sanctity, where one has to offer worship.
Have they ever spoken about or criticised those who made these holy places political? Religion is in my blood; I would give every drop for it, but that does not mean I will make it a tool to spill the blood of innocent people.
Yes, we compromised security in Kashmir. Good decisions have been taken, rightly so, but very late. Those who do not abide by security are enemies of religion and the nation, simple. Religion is not my property; it is my soul. I remember clearly that in 2016, when loudspeakers were used excessively, people from all the mosques came out of their homes, and slogans, what we called religious chants, disturbed my studies and deeply unsettled my family. I cannot forget it. That cannot be religion.
Without going deep into it, let me ask those who turned Kashmir into a religious issue and spilt the blood of thousands in Kashmir: was this religion? Let anyone counter my arguments with reason and logic.
Mosques and imams are ours; they belong to our society, and there should be no problem in their mapping and verification. It is not necessarily for religious purposes; it is based on what we have witnessed during 2012, 2016, and up to the post-abrogation period. Such measures are neither unprecedented nor extraordinary. Across the Muslim world, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Iran, and even Western countries such as the United Kingdom, the regulation, registration, and monitoring of mosques and religious clergy form a routine part of governance, aimed at ensuring transparency, accountability, and social stability.
Mosques play a key position in Muslim societies. In addition to being places of worship, they are also locations where discipline is taught, values are formed, and communal narratives are expressed and preached. States from all ideological backgrounds have realised how crucial it is to prevent religious venues from being abused for radicalisation, political mobilisation, or the propagation of extreme ideas because of this influence.
For this reason, one of the most centralised methods of mosque governance in the Muslim world is found in locations like Saudi Arabia. Its Ministry of Islamic Affairs oversees sermons, licenses mosques, selects and compensates imams, and carries out ideological screening and recurring training. Friday sermons are frequently uniform or strictly regulated, especially when it comes to delicate political and security matters.
In the United Arab Emirates the same system is used more technologically. All the Sermons are uniform across the country, all imams work for the government, and digital monitoring guarantees accountability and uniformity. Alongside regulation, the UAE aggressively promotes moderation, religious peace, and civic responsibility. As a result, there is little room for ideological abuse and a steady religious atmosphere.
This global perspective is necessary to comprehend the background of Kashmir. Some political players have described the verification and documentation of mosques and imams as discriminatory or invasive. But the lived history of Kashmir is overlooked by this interpretation. Religious platforms were frequently used in political mobilisation, as demonstrated by decades of strife.
Crucially, verification and documentation are administrative instruments rather than theological conclusions. They are designed to keep mosques secure from abuse, separate respectable religious leaders from clandestine political players, and prevent real clerics from being eclipsed by dishonest people.
The role of society itself is equally important. It is the obligation of communities and mosque committees to decide who preaches and educates. Religious education is delicate, potent, and profoundly formative; it is not your typical education. There have been occasions where self-styled clergy or inadequately qualified individuals, some later exposed as fraudulent or ideologically tainted, have misled congregations. Such personalities not only misrepresent religion teachings but also expose society to social and security problems.
As a result, imams and religious instructors need to be properly verified and meet explicit qualifying requirements. Moral rectitude, theological proficiency, and a solid grasp of social duty are necessary for their position. Maintaining the holiness of mosques requires community involvement in the selection, oversight, and assistance of imams.
In the end, faith is not threatened by transparency. Mosque verification becomes a step towards stability, certainty, and the defence of religious dignity when it is presented appropriately. It guarantees that mosques remain locations of calm, wisdom, and moral clarity, rather than theatres of political exploitation. It Is Never Too Late to Repent: Verification of Masjids and Imams Strengthens Public Trust and Religious Faith in Kashmir.

Email:---------------------vadaiekashmir@gmail.com