“With youth torn between modern distractions and a lack of ethical guidance, Maulanas must adapt by utilizing tools like social media, local radio, and youth forums to engage effectively with younger generations in a relatable language and tone.”
In the present-day socio-cultural context of Kashmir, where the valley faces a growing wave of social evils such as drug addiction, rising divorce rates, domestic violence, dowry demands, youth delinquency, and moral decay, the Ulama’s and Maulana’s hold a critical responsibility that goes far beyond delivering sermons or leading prayers they must emerge as active agents of social reform and moral revival. Given their deep-rooted influence in Kashmiri society, particularly in rural and semi urban areas, these religious scholars are uniquely positioned to shape public opinion and behavioural change through the lens of Islamic teachings. While many among them already contribute by addressing issues during Friday sermons, the role they should play in today’s world must be more proactive, organized, and socially responsive. It is no longer sufficient for religious leaders to speak in generalities about sin and piety; they must explicitly denounce specific harmful practices such as lavish weddings, drug trafficking, gender injustice, and corruption, all of which are eating away at the moral fabric of Kashmiri society. They should utilize Mosques and Madrasa’s not just as centers of religious rituals but as community hubs for education, counselling, and social awareness. With the youth increasingly caught between modern distractions and a lack of ethical direction, Maulana’s must adapt their outreach using modern tools such as social media, local radio, and youth forums to engage meaningfully with younger generations in a language and tone they understand. Furthermore, their religious authority should be harnessed to counsel families in conflict, promote women’s rights within an Islamic framework, and encourage education, honesty, and compassion. They should collaborate with educational institutions, health organizations, and civil society groups to spread awareness about issues like mental health, drug rehabilitation, and the dangers of extremist thinking.
“The Ulama’s and Maulana’s in Kashmir should provide moral leadership, drive social reform, and engage in compassionate activism. They must guide society through Quran and Hadith, as well as action, advocacy, and education. Their role is to be beacons of change leading the community towards dignity, discipline, and divine values.”
Importantly, Ulama’s must move beyond sectarianism and form a united front to address common social challenges, presenting Islam as a universal source of guidance for justice, empathy, and social order. In regions where government initiatives often fall short or fail to reach grassroots levels, religious scholars can fill the vacuum by offering both spiritual solace and practical solutions to everyday problems. However, for this to happen effectively, Ulama’s and Maulana’s themselves must undergo training in contemporary issues, social psychology, and community leadership, ensuring their guidance is both religiously sound and socially relevant. Their sermons should inspire not just ritualistic observance but transformative ethical conduct. In conclusion, the contemporary role that Ulama’s and Maulana’s should play in Kashmir is one of moral leadership, social reform, and compassionate activism. They must rise to the challenge of guiding society not only through Quran and Hadith but also through action, advocacy, and education becoming not just voices of tradition, but beacons of change who led the community away from decay and towards dignity, discipline, and divine values.
