Fatwa's Insights - Waqf, Mosque dan Funeral Management

THE 64TH MEETING OF THE PERLIS STATE FATWA COMMITTEE / 2023

28 - 29 OGOS 2023 / 11 - 12 SAFAR 1445H

GUIDELINES FOR ACTIVITIES IN MOSQUES AND PRAYER HALLS AND THEIR SURROUNDINGS

A mosque is a building that is dedicated or permanently endowed for the Muslim community to perform the five daily congregational prayers and other acts of worship. Any building, even if adjacent to or connected with a mosque or located within the mosque compound, which is not specifically dedicated or endowed for the purpose of the five daily congregational prayers and worship, is not considered a mosque.

1. General Regulations for Mosques and Prayer Halls

i) Generally, Officers and Mosque Committee Members must not conduct any activities that clearly contradict the Qur'an and the Sunnah

ii) Mosques must not be involved in any partisan political activities

iii) Mosques must be free from any political party symbols, whether inside or in the surrounding area.

iv) Everyone entering the mosque premises must cover their awrāh in accordance with Sharī‘ah.

v) The mosque area is a no‑smoking zone.

vi) No musical sounds may be played inside the mosque hall.

vii) No images of humans or animals may be displayed facing the qiblah during prayer, whether static pictures or images on electronic screens.

viii) Everyone present in the mosque area must uphold Islamic manners and conduct.

2. Selection of Preachers and Religious Teachers (Asatizah)

Preachers and asatizah who wish to deliver religious talks in the mosque must either hold a teaching permit (tauliyyah) issued by the Perlis State Religious Department or obtain prior permission from the Perlis State Mufti Department.

3. Characteristics of Speakers and Religious Teachers

i) Not performing actions or deeds that contravene Islamic morals

ii) Not insulting personalities and making false accusations against any party

iii) Not issuing statements that are politically partisan in nature

iv) They must dress appropriately for the occasion.

v) They must adhere to the time allocated for their session.

vi) They must comply with and respect the policies and fatwas of the Perlis Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIPs).

vii) They must not provide incorrect religious information, such as fabricated hadiths or false opinions.

4. Unofficial Tazkirah Activities Within Mosques

Unofficial tazkirah activities within mosques refer to any activities conducted not organised by the mosque administration appointed by the Perlis State Islamic Religious Department. All related activities must:

i) Not conduct any activities in the mosque whilst official mosque activities are taking place.;

ii) Obtain written permission from the Chairman of the Mosque Committee;

iii) Activities must be casual in nature without highlighting the speaker, using loudspeakers or the like;

iv) Activities must not be announced publicly to the mosque congregation;

v) The conduct of activities must be carried out in a corner of the mosque that does not disturb the mosque congregation or create a sense of discomfort to congregants who wish to remain seated in the mosque without participating in the gathering;

vi) Reading materials to be used must obtain prior written approval from the Perlis State Mufti Department;

vii) The tazkirah facilitator may only read materials that have received approval;

viii) The tazkirah facilitator is not permitted to make any personal commentary on reading materials that have received approval;

ix) Reading materials approved for Jemaah Tabligh activities throughout mosques in the State of Perlis are only the book Riyadh al-Salihin by al-Imam al-Nawawi and al-Ahadith al-Muntakhabah or Muntakhab Ahadith by Maulana Yusuf al-Kandahlawi, or any reading materials that receive permission from the Perlis Mufti Department;

x) Sleeping inside the mosque is not permitted except in sections permitted by the Mosque Committee;.

xi) Circles for reading the Qur’ān, reflecting on the Qur’ān (tadabbur), or collective recitation (tadarus) must be conducted under the guidance of the imam or a Qur’ān teacher.

xii) Any ceremony for the completion of the Qur’ān (khatm al‑Qur’ān) must follow the guidelines issued by the Perlis State Fatwa Committee.

Attendance of Members of the Perlis State Fatwa Committee:

1. S.S Professor Dato' Arif Perkasa Dr Mohd Asri Bin Zainul Abidin – Mufti of Perlis;

2. Sahibul Fadhilah Ustaz Tajul Urus bin Abdul Halim – Deputy Mufti of Perlis;

3. Sahibul Fadhilah Dato' Dr. Johari bin Mat;

4. Sahibul Fadhilah Professor Dr. Muhamad Rozaimi bin Ramle;

5. Sahibul Fadhilah Dr. Hj Zaharuddin Bin Hj Abdul Rahman;

6. Sahibul Fadhilah Professor Dr. Azman Bin Mohd Noor;

7. Sahibul Fadhilah Associate Professor Dr. Mohd Akram Bin Dato' Dahaman @ Dahlan;

8. Sahibul Fadhilah Dr Ahmad Sufian bin Che Abdullah;

9. Sahibul Fadhilah Dr. Kamilin bin Jamilin;

10. Sahibul Fadhilah Ustaz Syed Abu Bakar Bin Syed Kamal Bharin;

11. Ustaz Muhammad Khidhir Bin Abdul Ghani – Secretary.

RESOLVED at the Meeting of the Majlis Agama Islam dan Adat Istiadat Melayu Perlis Bil. 5/2023 on 2 October 2023.