Hazratbal Shrine Controversy – Beyond Politics and Personal Branding
By: Javid Amin | 05 Sep 2025
When Devotion Meets Disruption
The Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar is not just another mosque or monument. It is a spiritual landmark, home to the Moi-e-Muqqadas, a relic believed to be a strand of hair of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). For centuries, Hazratbal has symbolized reverence, humility, and spiritual continuity for the people of Kashmir and Muslims worldwide.
Yet, in recent weeks, the shrine has been thrust into controversy—after the installation of a national emblem plaque inside its walls. What was presented as “renovation” quickly turned into outrage, exposing the fragile line between faith and politics.
Prominent Kashmiri leader Ruhullah Mehdi framed the issue succinctly: Hazratbal is a sacred space beyond politics and personal branding.
Hazratbal’s Sacred History
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Hazratbal’s origins trace back to the 17th century, when Mughal emperor Shah Jahan’s governor brought the relic to Kashmir.
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Unlike other shrines and mosques that became battlegrounds of history, Hazratbal retained its singular sanctity, centered on the relic itself.
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Over centuries of wars, invasions, and political upheaval, Hazratbal stood as a site of quiet devotion—a space where identity and faith were preserved in prayer, not politics.
The shrine’s sanctity lies in its simplicity. No grand ornamentation, no political inscriptions—only faith.
Self-Glorification Masquerading as Renovation
Renovations at Hazratbal are not new. The shrine has undergone repairs and reconstructions after floods, earthquakes, and decades of conflict. But never before was there an attempt to brand its walls with plaques or emblems.
This time, however, a national emblem plaque was installed—reportedly to credit the renovation to the Jammu & Kashmir Waqf Board under its chairperson, Dr. Darakhshan Andrabi.
For devotees, this was not a gesture of respect but of branding and self-glorification. In Islam, where Tawheed (the oneness of God) explicitly prohibits iconography in sacred spaces, such a move felt intrusive and deeply offensive.
The response was swift: the plaque was broken by devotees themselves. Not as an act of vandalism—but as what many called an act of spiritual defense.
PSA Threats: From Insensitive to Insulting
What compounded the hurt was not the emblem alone, but the official response to the protests.
Dr. Andrabi suggested invoking the Public Safety Act (PSA) against those who protested the emblem.
For Kashmiris, the PSA is not just a law—it is a symbol of repression, used for decades to detain thousands without trial. To threaten its use against worshippers defending the sanctity of Hazratbal was seen as:
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Disproportionate: equating a religious grievance with law-and-order threat.
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Insulting: branding peaceful devotees as “troublemakers.”
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Dangerous: setting a precedent where faith itself can be criminalized.
By weaponizing law against faith, the authorities risk turning a spiritual issue into a political confrontation.
What This Moment Demands
Instead of confrontation, what Hazratbal—and Kashmir—needs is humility, sensitivity, and respect.
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Immediate Removal of Non-Religious Symbols
The shrine must remain free of political or national branding. Its sanctity rests in faith, not plaques. -
Public Apology & Accountability
Leaders must acknowledge the misstep, not double down. This is about respect, not authority. -
Community Consultation in Future Renovations
Decisions about shrines should not be made in boardrooms but with religious scholars, caretakers, and the community. -
Reaffirm Hazratbal’s Sanctity Beyond Politics
Hazratbal is not a stage for political legacy or personal branding. It is a space of humility, to be preserved as such.
Why It Matters Beyond Kashmir
The Hazratbal controversy isn’t just a local issue. It raises fundamental questions:
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Can sacred spaces survive in an age where politics penetrates every sphere?
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How should governments handle religious sentiments without crossing into appropriation?
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Will Kashmir’s faith traditions be preserved—or politicized?
For Kashmiris, Hazratbal is more than a shrine—it is emotional architecture. Touching it with politics feels like tearing at the very fabric of identity.
Bottom-Line: Respect Over Recognition
Hazratbal has survived time, rulers, and turmoil because its sanctity was guarded by devotion, not by politics. The controversy over plaques and emblems is not about stone or metal—it is about memory, humility, and identity.
As Ruhullah Mehdi rightly argued, sacred spaces are not meant for self-promotion or political theater. They demand respect.
This moment is a reminder that in Kashmir—and everywhere—faith must be protected from the ego of power.
