No More Excuse for Missing Friday Prayers: Johor’s Top Islamic Official

ISKANDAR PUTERI – Muslim men in Johor have no reason to skip Friday prayers following the state’s decision to revert its weekend rest days to Saturday and Sunday starting January 1, 2025. State Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid emphasized that Friday prayers are an obligation for Muslim men, including workers and business owners, and urged compliance.

“All Muslim men, including restaurant owners, must leave their business or work affairs for a while and perform their Friday prayers,” Mr. Mohd Fared said during a press conference at the Johor state assembly meeting on Nov 26.

To enforce attendance, the Johor Islamic Religious Department (JAINJ) will monitor compliance, while Muslim employees facing discrimination for attending Friday prayers are encouraged to report such cases to the Labour Department.

Mr. Mohd Fared highlighted that employers have agreed to allocate a two-hour break for Muslim employees to fulfill their religious obligation.

Additionally, schools with logistical challenges in attending mosque prayers will soon be permitted to host Friday prayers within their premises. JAINJ has identified 26 schools that have applied for upgrades to their surau (prayer halls) to meet this need. The state Mufti Department is set to finalize the guidelines before the 2025 school term begins.

In October, Johor’s Regent, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, announced the weekend change, ending the Friday-Saturday schedule that had been in place for 11 years. The decision, made with the consent of Sultan Ibrahim, aims to streamline rest days for both private and government sectors, aligning Johor with most other Malaysian states.

This policy shift, alongside the measures to facilitate Friday prayers, underscores the state’s commitment to ensuring Muslim men fulfill their religious obligations.