Nahdlatul Ulama: Friday prayer in public roads not valid

General Chairman of the countrys largest non political Islamic organization Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Said Aqil Siradj said Friday prayers in public roads are not valid according to Mazhab of Syafii and Maliki.

"Friday prayers in the road are not valid especially if it would disturb peace and is held at the expense of the interest of other people," Aqil said on the sidelines of the 17thy Congress of NU opened by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) here on Thursday.

Apparently Agil referred to Dec. 2 rally planned by the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), which demands for the arrest of Jakarta Governor Basuku Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok).

Ahok has been in the center of controversy over his statement considered blasphemous when he addressed people in the Thousand Island quoting a Koran verse.

Ahok is already named a criminal suspect by police following Nov. 4 mass rally.

FPI has said it would held mass Friday prayers in Jakartas main roads of Jalan Sudirman and Jalan Thamrin to precede demonstration on Dec. 2.

Agil said NU has discussed the FPIs plan and decided that it is not valid.

"Friday prayers held on the roads are not valid, according to Syafii mazhab. Fridays prayers have to be in a place prepared for Friday prayers either in a village of city," he said.

He then called on all NU community members not to be involved in Dec 2 rally.

The Dec 2 rally is intended to pressure police into arresting Ahok as a criminal suspect. Police have not arrest Ahok, saying there is no reason to put him in custody until the court decided otherwise. 

Arresting Ahok would likely kill his chance of being reelected in the next gubernatorial election in February, 2017.

Observers linked the demand for the arrest of Ahok to the gubernatorial election, which will be contested by two other candidates including Agus Harimurty Yudhoyono, a son of former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyno and former education minister Anies Baswedan.

Ahok, a Christian and ethnic Chinese, has been a strong favorite to win the election before he stumbled on the blasphemy allegation.

Police have strongly warned that it is not allowed to hold Friday prayers or rally on the main roads of Jakarta.
Source: ANTARA