“The pulpit should embody sincerity and integrity. Misusing it for hatred, personal attacks, or un-Islamic innovations undermines spiritual impact and alienates the youth from the true faith.”
The Pulpit (Minbar) in Islam holds a sacred position as it is a place from which guidance, moral instruction, and the message of Almighty Allah are conveyed to the community, and therefore safeguarding it from un-Islamic practices is a collective responsibility of the Ummah. From the earliest days of Islam, the Pulpit was used by the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) to call people toward faith, righteousness, justice, and humility, not for personal fame, political manipulation, entertainment, or promotion of divisive and prohibited matters. The Qur’an clearly emphasizes the responsibility of those who speak in the name of religion, as Almighty Allah commands believers to speak words that are just, truthful, and beneficial, and warns against saying what one does not practice. This establishes that the Pulpit must remain a source of sincerity and integrity, not a stage for hypocrisy or self-interest. Unfortunately, in some places today, the Pulpit is misused for spreading hatred, personal attacks, sensationalism, or messages mixed with cultural practices and innovations that contradict Islamic teachings. Such misuse weakens the spiritual impact of sermons and distances people, especially the youth, from the true message of Islam. The Qur’an reminds Muslims that Mosques are for the remembrance of Almighty Allah alone, and anything that distracts from this purpose contradicts their sanctity. Likewise, the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) warned against misguidance and innovation in religion, teaching that the best guidance is his guidance and that newly invented matters in religion lead people astray. This hadith serves as a strong reminder that the Pulpit should never be used to introduce practices that have no basis in the Qur’an and Sunnah or to glorify individuals rather than the commands of Almighty Allah. In addition to this, the Prophet (SAW) emphasized gentleness, wisdom, and mercy in preaching, indicating that harshness, mockery, and provocation have no place on the Pulpit. When sermons become performances filled with exaggerated stories, dramatic behaviour, or unverified narrations, they undermine the credibility of Islamic teachings and turn worship into spectacle.
“Safeguarding the pulpit from un-Islamic practices is vital for preserving the purity of faith. As a sacred trust, the pulpit represents more than a structure; it is a direct link to the hearts of the believers, and honoring it serves to honor the message of Islam itself.”
Safeguarding the Pulpit therefore requires knowledge, sincerity, and accountability, ensuring that those who ascend it are qualified, God-conscious, and mindful of the weight of their words. Scholars and community leaders must ensure that sermons are rooted in authentic sources, address real moral and social issues with wisdom, and unite rather than divide the believers. In the conclusion, protecting the Pulpit from un-Islamic practices is essential for preserving the purity of Islamic guidance, as the Pulpit is not merely a physical structure but a trust connected to the hearts and faith of the people, and honouring it is a means of honouring the message of Islam itself.
