Who Speaks for Kashmiri Muslims? A History of Religious Authority, Shrines and Competing Traditions From Sufi saints and the Mirwaiz institution to Ahl-e-Hadith scholars, Jamaat-e-Islami and Shia clerical families, Kashmir’s religious leadership has never belonged to a single authority By: News Desk | 29 October 2026 Srinagar: Who speaks for Kashmiri Muslims? The question frequently returns during political controversies, religious disputes and major public events. It is often directed at prominent clerics, the Mirwaiz of Kashmir, religious organisations or influential Shia leaders. Yet Kashmir’s history offers no simple answer. For…
Read MoreFrom Sufi Saints to Modern Clerics: How Religious Leadership Evolved in Kashmir
