By Aabroo Hussain

I learned about religious authority through everyday moments.

At tea stalls, on buses, and in offices after lunch, people spoke of clerics with care, caution, and compassion. Names were whispered almost like a prayer.

“He is very close to God, very pious,” someone would say. “No molvi XYZ is better than ABC.” “Do you know the great aga or molvi PQR?” they would ask.

I watched faces, listened to the way people spoke, noticed the pauses, and realized that the preacher held something special and shaped how people understood their faith in Kashmir.

Respect often depends more on who speaks than on what is said. Knowledge stays in the hands of a few families or networks. Access to scripture, rituals, and guidance passes through them, making devotion feel personal and deeply rooted in everyday life.

When a small group controls meaning, devotion grows stronger, and faith becomes something people experience through others. Personal understanding steps aside as listening, trusting, and following take center stage.

Families like the Safavis and the Ansaris hold both........

© Kashmir Observer