Temporary permission to conduct Friday prayers at surau ends - Melaka mufti

MELAKA - The permission given to 228 suraus in the state to hold Friday prayers on a temporary basis, following the Covid-19 pandemic two years ago, has been withdrawn with effect from Aug 19.

Melaka mufti Datuk Abdul Halim Tawil said the decision was made at the State Executive Council Meeting (MMKN) recently, after the Melaka Fatwa Committee of Melaka convened on June 27 to end the temporary permission.

"This means that Aug 12 will be the last time for Friday prayers to be held in the surau and after that date, the congregants must return to pray in their respective mosques.

"The reason for this is, there is sufficient space at the mosque to accommodate the congregation capacity at any one time, in addition to the need to revilatise the mosque and its function and strengthen unity among the local community through religious activities," he told reporters at Dewan Alamanda, Jasin here today.

Abdul Halim said that so far only two suraus serving the congregants of Serkam Darat Mosque and Kampung Gelam Mosque, Tangga Batu have been allowed to continue holding the Friday prayers because the mosques were under renovation.

Meanwhile, he said the Melaka Fatwa Committee and the State Islamic Religious Department (JAIM) are tracking down the activities and followers of the Hadi Minallah deviant group in the state.

Recently, a video showing several women wearing the niqab hugging and kissing the hand of a man, believed to be the founder of the group, in a ceremony in Langkawi went viral on social media. Based on the video, the induction ceremony in Langkawi was held from June 10 to 13. - BERNAMA