Pahang: The Pahang State Mufti Department and the Pahang Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MUIP) have reaffirmed the decree of the Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, to continue strengthening and elevating the role of mosques and suraus in the state.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Pahang Mufti Prof Datuk Dr Asmadi Mohamed Naim stated that Al-Sultan Abdullah had acknowledged proposals to establish Friday prayer facilities in shopping malls nationwide. However, he emphasized that Friday prayers in Pahang should continue to be performed at mosques and suraus authorized to conduct Friday prayers (SKJ).

Asmadi elaborated that MUIP, as directed by His Royal Highness, acts as the authority representing the Sultan of Pahang as the custodian of mosques and suraus, in accordance with the state list outlined in the Ninth Schedule of the Federal Constitution. He noted that the Sultan had been informed about the planning and distribution of mosques in Pahang, which are designed to meet the needs of local communities. This includes existing mosques and authorized Friday prayer suraus that are better equipped to accommodate congregants.

The state has several notable mosques, such as the Sultan Ahmad 1 State Mosque in Kuantan, the Tepian Putra Mosque, the soon-to-be-opened Bandaraya Mosque, and the Al-Shafie Mosque in Kota SAS. Asmadi highlighted that, according to the Syafi'i school of thought, Friday prayers must meet specific conditions, including being performed during the Zohor period, attended by at least 40 congregants, preceded by two sermons, and held at a designated venue without overlapping congregations in nearby areas.

Last Sunday, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Zulkifli Hasan expressed support for states' efforts to introduce Friday prayers in shopping malls, following positive feedback from several locations in the Federal Territories.