THE Johor State Islamic Religious Department (JAINJ) has seized 11 pairs of floor mats with portrayals resembling the Kaaba at a supermarket in Batu Pahat a day before the Aidilfitri celebrations.
The action followed a complaint from the public against the supermarket in question that sold the mat in conjunction with the Aidilfitri celebration, according to the state’s Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid.
Fared who is also the Semerah state assemblyman said the supermarket in question had also been called to give a statement in addition to being warned to be more careful and to abstain from selling products that touch the sensitivities of the community.
The photo of the mat went viral on social media with people sharing the post claiming that the well-known supermarket is selling a mat with portrayals of the Kaaba or Baitullah al-Haram which is located in the Haram Mosque, Mecca.
Muslims do the circumambulation of the Kaaba during the Haj and the umrah or mini-haj.
“The inspection and monitoring action was carried out a day before Aidilfitri following a public complaint after the floor mat discovery went viral on social media,” noted Fared.
“As a result of the inspection, 11 pairs of floor mats with the image of the Kaaba have been confiscated with monitoring still on-going throughout the state.”
According to Farid, the statement was not issued earlier to respect the Aidilfitri celebration in addition to allaying unnecessary public concerns.
The issue came about after a social media surfer expressed shock after finding foot mats sold at the said supermarket bear portrayals of the Kaaba. “At first I thought they were prayers mat because there is a portrayal of the Kaaba but on second look, they were floor mats meant for wiping the feet,” penned the netizen.
The individual’s sharing on social media later went viral with the average online citizen expressing regret at the actions of a few parties who were allegedly insensitive to the sensitivity of Muslims. – April 13, 2024
Main image credit: mStar
