SHAH ALAM: The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah (pic), has not granted consent for surau and musolla in shopping malls across the state to hold Friday prayers for now, says the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais).
Its chairman Datuk Salehuddin Saidin said the decision was based on concerns that allowing surau or musolla in shopping malls to conduct Friday prayers would undermine efforts to preserve and strengthen the role of mosques as the primary centres of worship for Muslims.
“At present, there are 448 mosques and 379 surau in Selangor that have been authorised to conduct Friday prayers.
“This indicates that the existing mosques and surau are sufficient to accommodate the state’s Muslim population.
“In addition, there are also mosques and surau located near shopping malls, making it convenient for the public to perform Friday prayers,” he said in a statement yesterday.
He added that the Sultan of Selangor’s decree is in line with Islamic teachings and the promotion of Islamic values by reinforcing the role of mosques as the primary places of worship for Muslims, while also serving as centres for religious education and dakwah (preaching).
On the issue of permitting surau or musolla in shopping malls to hold Friday prayers, Salehuddin said Mais must also take into consideration the appointment of imam, bilal and other personnel, as well as the management and governance of such facilities, to ensure compliance with all regulations and policies set by the council.
“If the personnel serving surau authorised to conduct Friday prayers in shopping malls are not appointed by Mais, it would create difficulties in monitoring and overseeing the management of the surau or musolla, including ensuring compliance with and uniformity in the Friday sermon prepared by Mais,” he said, Bernama reported.
Salehuddin said although one surau in a shopping mall in Selangor has been granted permission to hold Friday prayers, the approval is temporary because there is no mosque located near the premises.
“The temporary approval will be withdrawn if a mosque is built near the shopping mall in the future and is able to accommodate the local Muslim community for Friday prayers,” he said.
Meanwhile, Salehuddin said Mais has taken note of the Federal Government’s position, as expressed by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan, regarding the proposal to establish surau authorised to conduct Friday prayers in shopping malls nationwide.
Mais also stressed that matters relating to mosques, surau and musolla fall under the jurisdiction of the states, in accordance with the Ninth Schedule of the Federal Constitution.
“In Selangor, the Sultan of Selangor, as the Head of the Islamic Religion, has the prerogative to make decisions on the administration of Islamic affairs, including granting approval for surau or musolla to conduct Friday prayers,” he said.
