2012-04-15 - Saudi Gazette - JEDDAH - The Kingdom's foremost fatwa body is expected to issue a fatwa soon in response to a controversial statement from a local scholar that it is a "heresy" to close shops during prayer times. The fatwa, or religious ruling, will be issued by the Standing Committee for Scholarly Research and Issuing Fatwas. The statement was made by Abdullah Al-Owailit, a legal researcher and member of the Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution. Al-Owailit said earlier this month that "closing shops at prayer times is a heresy with no religious basis, and the Islamic Shariah does not call for such an enforcement". He also stated that he has evidence to support his argument. 

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