‘Wooden piece depicting Prophet’s sandal must be removed from surau’
IPOH: A wooden piece depicting a sandal that was used to decorate a mihrab (semi-circular niche or chamber indicating the direction of Makkah) in a surau in Lenggong should be moved to a more appropriate spot.
The Fatwa Division of the Perak Mufti’s Office, in a statement, said the surau administration must be sensitive to the environment and public speculation by closing the door to slander and reject matters which could lead to elements of worship.
Pictures of the wooden sandal at the surau have gone viral.
“This is in keeping with the ‘sadd al-zari’ah’ concept, which means to close the doors which can lead to forbidden acts.
“At the same time, netizens and the public are urged to avoid labelling certain quarters with extreme labels, such as non-believer and fasiq (someone who breaks Islamic law) without performing tabayyun (validation of the truthfulness of something) first,” it said.
Preliminary investigations found the piece was placed at the mihrab a year ago and the management of the surau admitted that it was merely for decorative purposes.
“After scrutinising with care and in a just manner, we find the intention of those involved was to express love for Prophet Muhammad. But the action had led to inappropriate assumptions and statements,” the statement read.
It said the issue of the wooden sandal was linked to tabarruk (seeking goodness by virtue of touching or being close to something belonging to the prophet), namely taking blessings from something related to the relics of Prophet Muhammad.
“The rule of tabarruk with the relics of the prophet is permitted in Islam based on valid hadith. But the replica is no longer mentioned as athar al-nabiy (something linked to Prophet Muhammad).
“Love for the prophet and for the pious in the eyes of Allah can be expressed in various ways and must not lead to bid’ah (any innovation in religious matters), tahyul (superstitition) and khurafat (absurdity), which deviate from syariah teachings.”