Fatwa's Insights - Waqf, Mosque dan Funeral Management

THE 50TH MEETING OF THE PERLIS STATE FATWA COMMITTEE / 2020

14 DISEMBER 2020 / 28 RABIUL AKHIR 1442H

GUIDELINES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF MOSQUES AND PRAYER HALLS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF PERLIS (Amendment Year 2020)

1. Generally, the Imam may not perform any action in prayer that does not have clear evidence from the Qur'an and the Sunnah.

2. Do not specify qunut recitation at particular times, such as Subh qunut, except for qunut nazilah and Witr.

3. Not conducting congregational litanies (wirid) at particular times such as after obligatory prayers except for the purpose of teaching within a limited time.

4. Not conducting specific recitations at specific times without evidence from the Qur'an and the Sunnah such as reciting Surah Yasin congregationally on Thursday night.

5. Do not conduct tahlil ceremonies for the deceased.

6. Do not conduct any ceremonies related to the deceased except in accordance with guidelines issued by the Majlis Agama Islam dan Adat Istiadat Melayu Perlis.

7. The Perlis State Fatwa Committee gives preponderance (tarjih) to the recitation of Bismillah being done silently for prayers recited aloud.

Women in a state of menstruation are permitted to enter the mosque on the condition that she can safeguard herself from defiling the mosque. However, if there is no necessity, then refraining from entering the mosque is more meritorious due to the divergence of opinion (khilaf) that exists among scholars.

Guidelines For Preachers (Khatib)

1. Must deliver the Friday sermon, Eid al-Fitr sermon, Eid al-Adha sermon and others with sermons issued by the Perlis Islamic Religious Council and Malay Customs.

2. Maintain the original text of the sermon. If an error occurs, correction is only made to the error only.

Guidelines For Muezzins (Bilal)

1. Proclaim the call to prayer (azan) as soon as the prayer time enters at every prayer time.

2. Proclaim the call to prayer twice for the dawn prayer (subuh), once 30 minutes before time entry and once immediately upon time entry.

3. Not to recite and make audible any other recitation loudly before and after the call to prayer.

4. Perform the call to commence prayer (iqamah) after the imam is ready to perform the prayer.

Announcements And Advertisements In The Mosque

1. Announcements and advertisements that manifest personal interests such as searching for lost items are PROHIBITED.

2. Announcements and advertisements related to business such as hajj and umrah packages, aqidah (creed) packages are PROHIBITED.

3. Announcements and advertisements related to matters of legislated obedience such as announcements of Eid prayers, funeral prayers, breaking of fast gatherings and others that involve religious and public welfare are PERMITTED.

Announcements And Advertisements On Mosque Fences

1. Announcements and advertisements containing legislated religious programs such as announcements of congregational Ramadan qiyam (night prayers), announcements of breaking of fast gatherings, hajj and umrah course classes are prohibited.

2. Any announcements and advertisements with inappropriate images are PROHIBITED.

3. Announcements and advertisements made must not cause division among Muslims and must not confuse certain parties.

4. Announcements and advertisements of programs that have not obtained approval from MAIPs or the Perlis Mufti Department or the Perlis Islamic Religious Department are NOT PERMITTED.

Friday Prayer Guidelines

1. Do not circulate donation collection boxes while the khatib (preacher) is delivering the sermon.

Guidelines For Mosque Congregants

1. The mosque or prayer hall congregation are those who attend and are present in a mosque or prayer hall area.

2. Members of the congregation may not conduct practices in the mosque or prayer hall area that contradict the practices that have been stipulated for the imam, preacher and muezzin.

3. Members of the congregation must not organize any practices or activities that may lead to division or contradict directives from religious authorities.

4. Members of the congregation may not conduct any litanies (wirid) or recitations that disturb other congregants.

Application Of Guidelines

1. These Guidelines apply to all mosques and prayer halls in the State of Perlis.

2. These Guidelines apply to all Muslims residing in Perlis State, whether acting as imam or makmum.

3. Mosque management is bound by the directives and control of the Council from time to time based on the Administration of Islamic Religious Affairs Enactment 2006.

Endorsed at the Meeting of the Perlis Islamic Religious Council and Malay Customs (Majlis Agama Islam dan Adat Istiadat Melayu Perlis) Bil. 1/2021 on 26 January 2021.