Thousands perform funeral prayers for Ismail Haniyeh at mosques nationwide

KUALA LUMPUR: Mosques across the country today held funeral prayers for Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in an airstrike by the Israeli regime in Tehran, Iran, yesterday.

According to Bernama, in addition to mosques under the administration of the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) and the Federal Territory Islamic Department (JAWI), funeral prayers were also conducted in several states as a sign of solidarity from the Muslim community in Malaysia with the Palestinian struggle against the oppression of the Zionist regime.

In the capital, over 100 people attended the funeral prayer for the late Haniyeh at the National Mosque, led by the Chief Imam of the National Mosque, Hassan Alfadhli Abdul Rahman.

Meanwhile, at Putra Mosque in Putrajaya, more than 500 worshippers participated in the funeral prayer held immediately after Maghrib prayer, led by the Chief Imam of Putra Mosque, Dr. Muhamad Zakuwa Rodzali.

In Selangor, the Al-Wathiqu Billah Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Shah Alam, also held the funeral prayer led by Ismail Hashim, attended by around 50 worshippers including university staff, students, and the public.

Selangor Islamic Department (JAIS) Public Relations Officer Nur Syamira Md Suffri informed that all mosques and suraus in the state would hold the funeral prayer after Maghrib prayer tonight.

Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque announced on its official Facebook page that the funeral prayer for the late Ismail Haniyeh would be conducted after Friday prayers tomorrow.

In Perak, a visit to Medan Klebang Restu Jamek Mosque revealed that about 500 worshippers attended the funeral prayer, led by the mosque’s Imam, Khair Ahmad Naufal Mohd Khair.

Earlier, Perak Islamic Department Director Harith Fadzilah Abdul Halim said that the funeral prayer for Ismail Haniyeh would be held in mosques and suraus throughout Perak after Maghrib prayer tonight.

Meanwhile, in Penang, all mosques across the state held the funeral prayer after Maghrib prayer today following the death of the Hamas leader.

Penang Islamic Council President Datuk Mohamad Abdul Hamid stated that over 200 mosques in the state were asked to conduct the funeral prayer as a mark of solidarity with the late Ismail Haniyeh.

“On behalf of the Penang state government, I extend condolences to Haniyeh’s family and the Palestinian people for this loss. The funeral prayer tonight is a sign of solidarity for this incident,” he said, also serving as the Deputy Chief Minister I of Penang.

A visit to Tuan Samad Mosque in Permatang Sungai Dua, Butterworth, showed that over 200 worshippers, including Mohamad and Penang Mufti Datuk Dr. Mohd Sukki Othman, attended the funeral prayer.

Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr. Mohd Na’im Mokhtar requested all mosques under JAKIM and JAWI to hold the funeral prayer for the late Ismail Haniyeh.

Anadolu Agency reported that the Hamas leader was killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting his residence in Tehran.

He was in the Iranian capital to attend the inauguration ceremony of Iran’s new President, Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian.