Govt asks imams to ensure anti-terrorism speech before Jumma prayers

The government has instructed the khatibs and imams of all mosques around the country to ensure anti-terrorism and anti-militancy speeches before the Jumma prayers every Friday.

Along with the instruction, to increase social awareness in preventing militant and terrorist activities, the Religious Affairs Ministry issued a notification in this regard on Monday.

The ministry aims to increase the involvement of people from all walks of life to increase social awareness to prevent, eradicate and control militant and terrorist activities.

“Islam is the path to peace, welfare and liberation for the human race,” read the notification. “The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) established peace, security and the rights of all human beings by removing fear, instability, insecurity and conflict from a society of ignorance, darkness and fear.”

In order to destroy the growing popularity of Islam, some evil forces are carrying out terrorist and militant activities from time to time. This hurts the image of religious people including the scholarly community. Terrorism and militancy are a global challenge, it said.

It was also mentioned in the notification that anti-terrorism and militancy statements should be prepared in the light of the Quran and Hadith through Muftis, Muhaddis, Mufassirs and other scholars working in the Islamic Foundation and regular publicity should be ensured through Khatibs and Imams of all local mosques.

Necessary steps have to be taken to disseminate the statements with correct interpretations of the Quran and Hadith through online as well as various social media, it added.