“Forcing
shops to shut during prayer time is a heresy without any basis … this practice
has not been sanctioned by Sharia nor is it accepted by any sound mind … there is legal and religious evidence showing
this measure is against Islamic sharia … Forcing shops to close harms their
business and is unfair to all those involved in economic activity… in what way
such restrictions serve Islam? … Islam
has never forced businesses to shut during prayer times but some shop owners
used to close voluntarily so they can perform prayers”
Sheikh
Abdullah al Owailit, a member of the government’s religious investigation
committee, said last week regarding the requirement of having shops and other
business outlets in Saudi close for at least 30 minutes during prayer times
every day. The measure is enforced by members of the Commission for the
Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, the most feared law enforcement
authority in Saudi Arabia. Commission members are massively deployed in town
centers and residential areas to ensure all shops comply with the rule and to
punish offenders.
Source:
BikyaMasr (full article here).
Image: Travel House
