IKTIKAF DI SURAU: KAJIAN TERHADAP KEPUTUSAN JAWATANKUASA PERUNDINGAN HUKUM SYARA’ WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN

This article examines decision of the Federal Territory Syarie Consultation Committee on the issue of iktikaf in surau (prayer rooms). There are two different decisions (fatwa) in this issue: the first allows iktikaf to be done in the surau. However, after twelve years, this opinion was reversed and since then iktikaf in surau was no longer allowed. The basic difference of both decisions lies in the meaning of the mosque and its application to the status of surau or musalla in Malaysia as an equivalent place of worship. This study makes a comparison between two such different decisions and then analyzes the meaning of the words musalla and mosques mentioned in the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad S.A.W from the perspective of various madhhabs (school of Islamic Law) to find a clear understanding of the status of local suraus. It aims to expand the implementation of some commendable (sunat) rituals such as iktikaf. The study found that the first decision, which validates iktikaf in a normal surau or Jumaat surau is more suitable for practice.