Terengganu’s religious authorities to ban sermons by politicians at state mosques?

[superadmin]

Has Hadi inspired Terengganu’s religious authorities to ban sermons by politicians at state mosques?

SOMEHOW in conjunction with anniversary of the installation of Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin today, Terengganu’s Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIDAM) has banned politicians from delivering religious lectures or ceramahs in mosques and suraus state-wide.

In a statement yesterday (March 3), MAIDAM said Sultan Mizan was upset that some politicians had given religious lectures or classes or even led Friday prayers without the council’s approval.

“All state assemblymen, MPs, and senators are not allowed to deliver any religious ceramahs, lectures or teachings in mosques and suraus in Terengganu,” MAIDAM pointed out. “All state assemblymen, MPs, and senators are also not allowed to lead Friday prayers in mosques.”

With such ruling coming into effect, yesterday (March 3) could be the very last time PAS president Tan Sri Hadi Awang delivered a Friday sermon at the Rusila Mosque in his Marang parliamentary constituency – often to an almost ‘sell-out crowd’.

- More -

[superadmin]

Nothing wrong with political sermons in mosques, says Hadi

PETALING JAYA: Abdul Hadi Awang said there was nothing wrong with politicians delivering sermons or religious lectures at mosques and suraus, arguing that it was compulsory for them to do so.

The PAS president said, in Islam, politics and religion could not be separated, adding that Prophet Muhammad had touched on politics in his sermons, Malaysiakini reported.

“There’s Islam in politics, therefore there is political Islam. So it is not wrong and in fact compulsory to talk about it,” he was quoted as saying.

- More -

[superadmin]

“Don’t attack us”: Submit memo to sultan if you disagree with ruling, Anwar tells Hadi

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang should write a memorandum to the Sultan of Terengganu if he disagrees with the state’s decision to ban politicians from giving lectures in mosques and suraus.

“There is no need to attack the government as the ruling applies to all politicians, including myself as the prime minister,” he said after the monthly assembly for finance ministry staff in Putrajaya.

Terengganu’s rationale for the ban was the excessive inclusion of political elements in religious discourse according to him as he met with reporters after the monthly assembly for finance ministry staff here today.

- More -

[superadmin]

Perak next to ban ceramah by politicians in mosques, surau

KUALA LUMPUR – The Perak Islamic Religious Department has issued a directive prohibiting politicians from giving ceramah (talks) at the state’s registered mosques and surau.

On Facebook, the department shared the letter preventing members of the Dewan Negara, Dewan Rakyat and assemblymen from all states from speaking in said places of worship.

The letter, issued by department director Harith Fadzilah Abdul Halim, said the prohibition also applies to those who do not possess teaching credentials from the Perak State Islamic Religious Teaching Supervision Committee.

- More -

[superadmin]

Hadi delivers Friday sermon despite ban by Terengganu religious authority

PETALING JAYA: PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang delivered his weekly sermon at Masjid Rusila in Marang, Terengganu, today despite a ban against politicians giving religious lectures in mosques and suraus, Utusan Malaysia reported.

The ban was imposed by the Terengganu Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (Maidam). It said that Terengganu’s Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin was upset that some politicians had given religious lectures or classes, and led Friday prayers without the council’s approval.

The Marang MP delivered his sermon after handing over donations collected by Terengganu PAS for the Turkey and Syria earthquake victims.

Hadi had previously played down the ban saying such prohibitions were in place since the ’60s and that Maidam was merely repeating it.

- More -