Every Friday, millions of Pakistanis enter mosques seeking spiritual clarity and moral direction. The sermon they hear shapes their understanding of faith, society and national responsibility. Yet across the country, the content of these sermons differs dramatically. In some mosques, the message uplifts; in others, it divides; and in a few, it dangerously distorts religious teachings to advance personal, political or sectarian narratives.

This inconsistency is not harmless. In a deeply religious society, unregulated preaching has repeatedly opened doors for extremism, conspiracy-driven rhetoric and manufactured hatred. Pakistan urgently needs a unified Friday sermon issued by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, created with scholarly input and grounded firmly in Islamic principles.

This approach is neither new nor foreign to the Muslim world. Saudi Arabia has long practised a centralised khutbah system. Scholars prepare a weekly sermon that promotes moderation, unity and authentic Islamic teachings. It is delivered across the Kingdom, ensuring that no individual preacher hijacks the........

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