The Johor Islamic Affairs Council (MAIJ) has been urged to reconsider its plan to demolish the surau at a resort in Johor, which was used by a group of Buddhists for a meditation session.

NONEPersatuan Ulama Malaysia secretary-general Mohd Roslan Mohd Nor (right) said this is because the surau provides convenience to Muslim workers and guests of the resort.

“The surau has already been built, so it is a waste to the larger community if it is demolished," he said when contacted.

"With its presence, at least there is space for spiritual activities at the resort. Let's not look at simple solutions, but think in the long term.”

National news agency Bernama had quoted MAIJ adviser Nooh Gadut as saying that “if a surau is found to have hosted other religious activities, it can be demolished based on surah at-Taubah verse 107 (in the Quran)”.

Nooh had told Malaysiakini that the surau is not built towards the qiblat (the direction Muslims face during prayer).

"The qiblat is (far off). Not only is the surau not facing the Kaabah, it is also not facing the Sacred Grounds," Nooh said.

He also rejected the claim that the council is acting like the Taliban, as suggested by NGO Lawyers for Liberty.

“Let them say that, we need not comment. We assume the best. Everything is under investigation. The Taliban (remark) should not have been made. We are not Talibans,” he said.  

Commenting on Noh's justification, Mohd Roslan said verse 107 of surah at-Taubah is a “warning by Allah against the building of mosques but not for the purpose of worship”.

“This is a different concept than that of this surau,” said Mohd Roslan, who is also a senior lecturer with Universiti Malaya's Academy of Islamic Studies.

If the qiblat is the problem, he said, then it can be corrected by re-arranging the saf (row during prayer), as done in many other mosques that were built with inaccurate qiblat.

“We support the endeavour to correct the surau's qiblat but we urge that MAIJ reconsider its plans to demolish the surau,” he said.

Mohd Roslan also urged the council to run more programmes to bring Muslims closer to their places of worship.

“The lesson to be learnt here is that Muslims must frequent their mosques and suraus often," he noted.

"Those who don't even go to mosques and suraus shouldn't suddenly become champions in this issue and demonstrate here and there."

Questionable reason

Former Perlis mufti Asri Zainul Abidin told news portal FZ.com that it is inappropriate to demolish the surau if the reason for demolition is that non-Muslims had used it for their rituals.

NONE"If it's tanah wakaf (land donated for the purpose of Islam), then it becomes very sensitive," he was quoted as saying.

"But if the surau is allocated on the land of a private individual, that individual does have every right to change his mind because it isn’t an official place for Muslims to worship.”

"If they say they want to tear down the surau because of that, then it’s just ridiculous. We must remember that Muslims have bought churches before and converted it into a surau.

"Even our Prophet Muhammad SAW has allowed Christians to practise their worship in Masjid Nabi (The Prophet’s mosque).

"However, it was a special consideration, granted with special permission because Christianity and Judaism isn’t that far from Islam.

"Islamic history teaches that sort of tolerance but it must be within control and with the permission of the Islamic head.”