Selangor Sultan does not consent to Friday prayers at shopping malls
SHAH ALAM, July 8 — The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has not granted consent for surau and musolla in shopping malls across the state to hold Friday prayers for now, the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) said.
Mais 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.
He said such a move could lead to a decline in the number of congregants at existing mosques and surau authorised to hold Friday prayers, as Muslims would have the option to perform the prayers at surau or musolla in shopping malls.
“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 today.
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.
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 imams, bilals 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.
Salehuddin said that 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“The temporary approval will be withdrawn if a mosque is built near the shopping mall in the future and is able to accommodate the local Muslim community for Friday prayers,” he said.
“Accordingly, Mais calls on all Muslims in Selangor to continue enlivening mosques and surau so that these institutions can serve as centres of unity for the Muslim community,” 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.
He added that the establishment of mosques and surau, as well as the use of any building as a mosque, surau or musolla, is subject to the prior written approval of Mais under Section 97 of the Administration of the Religion of Islam (State of Selangor) Enactment 2003.
