Islamic spiritual leader stresses it's not wrong to work on Fridays
Chula Ratchamontri Aziz Pitakkumpol has reiterated that Islamic teachings do not prohibit Muslims from working on Fridays and anybody stopping people from working on the day are violating their basic rights.
In a three-page letter to the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre, Aziz explained that working on Fridays did not go against Islamic teachings and that Allah wanted Muslims to work so they did not become a burden on others.
“Since we have to eat every day, Islam does not prohibit us from working every day, not even on Friday which is an important religious day. What Islam says is that one should not forget to pray on Friday,” the letter addressed to SBPAC secretary-general Thawee Soddong said.
This letter came in response to Thawee’s query after leaflets were distributed in the South threatening people of action if they worked on Fridays because it was prohibited in Islam. Vendors decided to shut shops on Fridays out of fear for their lives and their safety.
The SBPAC will publish the spiritual leader’s letter in English, Thai and Malay, and distribute widely in the South at the earliest opportunity.
Separately, retired Police Lieutenant Ingsaree Doroning, 53, was shot by two men on a motorcycle in tambon Kayubokoh of Yala’s Raman district at 9.20am and pronounced dead soon after. Earlier in tambon Jakwa, former assistant village headman Suding Hama, 62, was seriously wounded after being shot at by two men on a motorcycle at 7am.
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