Praying Mats make their stand ***

An outstanding item in the news recently: prayer mats standing and praying ! In Pasir Mas, 35 prayer mats stood in prayer. One of the mats stood in as the imam, while the rest followed in prayer. All the prayer mats were found to be standing in several rows, 15 of them in the male section while the rest were found in the women’s section of the prayer hall of the surau.

Previously similar happenings were reported in Bukit Mertajam, where a prayer mat stood shaped like a woman performing prayers. Hundreds flocked to see the amazing sight, and a standing ovation was given.

There was much scepticism, but the faithful stood by the claims.

Pasir Mas religious enforcement assistant director Kamaruddin Zakaria took a different stand - that it was the work of someone who is out to cause an uproar among Muslims.

The mats have since been seized by the department to prevent them from becoming objects of khurafat (superstition).

“We did it to prevent the people from developing superstitious beliefs. Some of the visitors who turned up at the surau were becoming obsessed with the mats,” he said adding that anyone could have orchestrated the incident.

As it stands, it is not certain where the mats have been taken. Unconfirmed rumours stated that the mats are continuing their antics in the Religious Department Office, where there is standing room only. Officials were on standby, to watch for similar occurrences of religious fervour among other prayer mats.