Masood's sermons, focused on Islamic jurisprudence, family law, and social issues, have drawn significant debate in Pakistan and abroad. In 2020, Masood clarified in a sermon that he did not oppose the Turkish television series
Diriliş: Ertuğrul, describing reports to the contrary as based on an old, unrelated clip.
Views on Islamic banking A 2023 analytical study of YouTube lectures reports that, in Masood's view, profit taken by
Islamic banks is distinct from conventional interest (
riba). The study summarises that he describes Islamic banks as operating through contracts such as
mudarabah,
musharakah,
ijarah and
bayʿ al-salam. It further attributes to him comments about practical issues (for example, a bank's refusal to open his account and the imposition of penalties), and concludes that he regards Islamic banking, in situations of compulsion, as the "lesser of two sins" compared to conventional interest-based finance.
Theological views on Sufi epithets Masood has discussed the
Sufi epithet
al-ghawth al-aʿzam, traditionally applied to
ʿAbd al-Qadir Gilani, and advises avoiding its use in the present age on the juristic principle of
sadd al-dharaʾiʿ ("blocking the means"), while refraining from declaring its users unbelievers. A 2022 article in
Islamic Studies situates this stance within the broader Deobandi tradition, comparing it to earlier restrictions on devotional practices under the concept of
fasād al-zamān ("corruption of the age").
Peace narrative and anti-extremism stance Masood has occasionally positioned himself within Pakistan's state-backed discourse against extremism. In March 2019, he participated in a seminar on
Paigham-i-Pakistan at the
University of Sindh, Hyderabad. Speaking at the event, he emphasised that Islam does not permit coercion in matters of faith or ideology, and cited the unanimous declaration of more than 5,000 Pakistani religious scholars condemning extremism and terrorism. He described Pakistan as an Islamic state with a clear anti-extremism policy and characterised Islam as a religion of peace.
Position on congregational prayers during COVID-19 pandemic (2020) In March 2020, amid the spread of
COVID-19 and a government advisory to suspend congregational prayers, Masood publicly supported the temporary closure of mosques. According to
The News International, he urged Muslims to pray at home and "ask Allah for forgiveness and health," describing the virus as a serious threat that required precaution. His stance contrasted with that of
Taqi Usmani, who had advised continuing collective prayers with limited attendance.
Remarks on Chinese labor practices (2019) In July 2019,
Foreign Policy reported that Masood criticised Chinese supervisors at a Pakistani factory who had allegedly prevented local workers from praying during duty hours. He was quoted as saying, "Tell them this is not the land of your fathers. Don’t be lenient if they stop you from offering prayer during duty hours." The incident was cited among tensions arising from cultural and labor frictions under the
China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Domestic Violence Bill (2021) In July 2021, Masood opposed the proposed
Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill, urging its referral to the
Council of Islamic Ideology. In later sermons, he clarified that Islamic law does not permit a husband to harm his wife, stressing that if a man breaks his wife's bones or teeth,
qiṣāṣ (retributive justice) is compulsory since Islamic legal principles make no gender-based distinction in such cases.
Criticism of Aurat March A 2024 study in
Dialectical Anthropology observed that Masood framed marriage (
nikah) as a divinely sanctioned safeguard against
zina (adultery) in response to slogans such as
hamari zarurat shaadi nahin hai, hamari zarurat azaadi hai ("our need is not marriage, our need is freedom"). It argued that he portrayed the
Aurat March as undermining traditional gender norms and threatening Pakistan's Islamic identity.
Ban during Muharram (2024) In July 2024, the
Government of Sindh barred 143 religious scholars, including Masood, from delivering speeches during
Muharram under the Sindh Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance (1960). The order, which also imposed Section 144 across the province for the first ten days, described the banned individuals as "provocative/firebrand speakers." Reports linked Masood's inclusion to his satirical and controversial remarks in sermons.
Political remarks (2018–2025) Masood has occasionally commented on political leaders and events. In 2018, he criticised
Imran Khan for visiting the shrine of
Baba Farid with his wife
Bushra Bibi, alleging undue spiritual influence. In 2021, he attended a meeting of scholars with Khan in Karachi and later praised the Prime Minister's focus on protecting the family system and countering obscenity. In May 2025, Masood visited the
Wagah border with a delegation of Karachi-based scholars. According to
Express News, he told reporters that Indian Prime Minister
Narendra Modi was provoking conflict but that Pakistan sought peace, and emphasised that he stood with the
armed forces in the country’s defence.
Blasphemy allegations (2024) In September 2024, clips circulated on social media alleging that Masood had questioned the
Prophet Muhammad's literacy and referred to errors in the
Quran, sparking backlash and a police complaint in Karachi. He later issued apologies stating his remarks were taken out of context and reaffirming his respect for the Quran and the Prophet. According to a commentary in
DW Urdu, the allegations highlighted how
blasphemy accusations in Pakistan have become increasingly weaponised, with Masood's case used by rival clerics to inflame public sentiment.
Child marriage remarks In November 2021, Masood allegedly defended child marriage in a viral video, admitting to having allowed the marriage of his 13-year-old niece. He encouraged his followers to do the same, stating that it is ultimately the husband's decision whether the girl continues her studies or becomes a housewife.
Remarks on runaway marriages (2025) In July 2025, a past video of Masood went viral in which he said that while he did not encourage couples to
elope, a marriage by
nikah was still valid and preferable to
zina. He described such couples as "blessed people" compared to those committing adultery.
Views on family and divorce (2025) In a March 2025 interview, Masood attributed rising divorce rates to distance from religion, Western influence, and weakening marital roles. He argued that women's increasing assertion of equality undermines family harmony, while men remain responsible for wives’ rights. He also criticised dramas that, in his view, promote retaliation against husbands. == Notes ==