Kashmir’s Chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq addresses the Friday congregation at Jamaal Masjid, in Srinagar. File.
| Photo Credit: ANI
In a rare bid by the clergy of Kashmir to preserve the local language, all Friday sermons on October 16 will be delivered in Kashmiri language, Kashmir chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said on Friday (October 9, 2026).
“In a first coordinated khutbah [sermon] across mosques and imambargahs on October 16, it will focus on faith and delivered in the vernacular language, a cherished treasure of our distinct Islamic identity and heritage,” said the Mirwaiz.
He made the announcement on the urs (special occasion) of Hazrat Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani, a local saint from Budgam. “His ‘shruks’ [verses] enriched and preserved the Kashmiri language. To preserve Kashmiri is to preserve our identity, memory and civilisational heritage. Younger generations should speak, read and value their mother tongue,” said the Mirwaiz.
He said the saint was a torch bearer of the concept of ‘Imaan’ and ‘Tawheed’ and represented it in his discourse in the vernacular language. He said the other issues to be jointly addressed by clerics in Kashmir would be unity among Muslims, drug abuse, suicide and mental health concerns, youth challenges, misuse of social media, family concerns and environmental responsibility. “It will be taken up one by one on subsequent Fridays as part of the coordinated programme,” said the Mirwaiz.
Published – October 10, 2026 01:10 am IST
