Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has said that Muslims must stand together in opposing anyone challenging decisions by the National Fatwa Committee.

This comes after the Court of Appeal decided on Thursday that a child conceived out of wedlock can take on his or her father's surname, and that the edict on this by the National Fatwa Committee does not have the force of law.

"In this case, Muslims must unite and agree that Islam must be respected and that we do not want any decisions made by the National Fatwa Committee to be challenged by anyone, whether an individual or a different legal system outside of the fatwa committee," Zahid said during his officiating speech at a Hari Raya event with the Malabari community in Selayang tonight.

The government and the National Registration Department (NRD) have filed for leave to appeal the appellate court's decision to the federal court.

In the meantime, the NRD director-general Mohd Yazid Ramli said that the procedure to name a child born out of wedlock will remain the same despite the decision.

Zahid, who is also the deputy prime minister, said that the NRD is obeying the National Fatwa Committee's decision.

"That is why we are appealing to a higher court to overturn that decision because only children who are legitimate can bear their father's name.

"As the Home Minister, I agree with the NRD director-general's decision to appeal the court decision," he said.

He also said that outsiders should not meddle in Islamic affairs.

"Let Muslims handle our own Islamic affairs," he said.

In 2003, the National Fatwa Committee decided that a child conceived out of wedlock (“Anak Tak Sah Taraf”) cannot carry the name of the person who claims to be the father of the child, if the child was born less than six months after the parents’ marriage.

Zahid said that he recognises the innocence of the child but it is the parents' actions that affect the child.

"In such situations, we still respect the children because they have not sinned.

"Children are born like white cloth but it is the parents who stain the cloth," he said.

A punishment has to remain a punishment, he added.

Zahid also railed against the recent extra restrictions placed by Israel on Palestinians entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Echoing Wisma Putra's earlier statement, he said Muslim worshippers must be provided unrestricted access to the mosque, which is the third most holy site in Islam.

Speaking to the Malabari community tonight, Zahid also announced that the government will provide RM1 million to build a hall for the community's use.

"I regret coming here today. I was told I could eat for free, but I was asked to help with building the hall here," he quipped.

"I would like to sincerely announce that the government will give an allocation of RM1 million (to build the hall)," he said later.