After a gap of 10 years, Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq today addressed a large gathering of devotees at the revered shrine of Sheikh Nooruddin Noorani in Charar-e-Sharief, Budgam.
In his sermon, Mirwaiz emphasized Islam’s enduring message of peace, justice, and spiritual renewal inspired by the teachings of Kashmir’s patron saint.
“It is a great blessing to once again visit the sacred land of the great Sufi saint Sheikh Nooruddin Noorani (RA), whose vision and wisdom have shaped the hearts and minds of the Kashmiri people for more than five centuries and continues to inspire generations,” Mirwaiz said.
“Kashmir has been deeply blessed,” Mirwaiz said, “that such saints and sages have walked upon its soil, guiding hearts towards light and truth.”
Reflecting on present times, Mirwaiz said that when humanity is surrounded by confusion, division, and conflict, it becomes all the more vital to reconnect with our roots and the core values that our saints embodied — simplicity, equality, compassion, and non-violence.
He urged the youth to reconnect with these traditions, describing them not as relics of the past but as the moral compass for the future. In a world driven by power and domination, he said, “the path of our Sufis reminds us that true strength lies in truth, humility, and service to humanity.”
Reiterating that the institution of Mirwaiz has always stood for dialogue over discord, compassion over coercion, and understanding over aggression, Mirwaiz observed that the suffering and injustices witnessed across the world today show that force and suppression can never bring peace.
He emphasized that only through justice, mutual respect, and dialogue can societies and nations achieve real peace and lasting stability.
Mirwaiz prayed that the leadership of South Asia be guided by the vision and wisdom to bring lasting peace to the region through dialogue, justice, and compassion, as envisioned by the great Sufi saints.
