The Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU) the amalgam of all Muslim religious organisations of J&K , headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq expresses concern over the recent directive issued by the Jammu and Kashmir Government’s Department of Culture instructing schools across the region to commemorate the 150th year of Vande Mataram through organized musical and cultural programs ensuring participation of all students and staff.
The MMU said in a statement that singing or reciting Vande Mataram is un-Islamic, as it contains expressions of devotion that contradict the fundamental Islamic belief. “Islam does not permit any act that involves worship or reverence directed to anyone or anything other than the Creator” the statement read.
MMU said that while Muslims are urged to deeply love and serve their homeland, that devotion should be expressed through service ,compassion, and contribution to society — not through acts conflicting with faith.Forcing Muslim students or institutions to participate in activities that conflict with their faith is both unjust and unacceptable .
The statement said that this directive appears to be a deliberate attempt to impose an RSS-driven Hindutva ideology on a Muslim-majority region under the guise of cultural celebration, rather than promoting genuine unity and respect for diversity.
MMU urged the administration to withdraw the directive “which has caused anguish to all Muslims and ensure that no students or institution is compelled to act against their religious beliefs”.