Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Hoping for a better Fatwa/Edict

The Indonesian Ulama(Cleric) Council (MUI) has just issued Fatwa (edict) which declared that Infotainment i.e. Gossips in the news media about life of celebrities is Haram (Forbidden) for Moslems.

Beside that, MUI have also declared that Changing Sex intentionally is also Haram (Forbidden) for Moslem.

As a Moslem who has always been proud to be born, grew up, function as a male, and never enjoy watching Infotainment, MUI's above Fatwa/Edict have no effect at all, because our national legal system does not recognize Fatwa/Edict as a legally binding law, thus it is up to the individual whether he/she wants to obey it.
I doubt that most Indonesian Moslems who are moderate would obey it, but Fanatic Moslems would surely obey it.

I hope that as the highest official Moslem authority, MUI would pay attention to other matters which are far more important for the people and country such as : Corruption, Drug abuse, Inter-Religious Harmony, Growing Violence, Crimes, Unemployment, etc. that way people in our country can live more peacefully and harmoniously.

Related articles quoted from The Jakarta Globe :
                                            
- Gossip TV, Magazines Banned, MUI Rules;                                                                                               
- From Gossip to Sex Changes, MUI Weighs in with Fatwas;

8 comments:

colson said...

Once more I can't but agree with you 100%.

I may add that in my opinion most people are well able to decide for themselves what's right and wrong. They are in no need for some kind of moral police. At least if it's about petty and trivial issues.

MUI ( and their equivalents in other parts of the world) indeed should concentrate on real problems people cope with.

Unknown said...

Colson,
As the top religious organization in the 4th most populated country in the world MUI cannot keep ignoring matter which are concerned by most people and only focus on less important ones.

Rob Baiton said...

@ Harry...

Wanna bet? I reckon the MUI can, and will keep ignoring the serious stuff for the populist stuff.

Unknown said...

Hi Rob,
I hate to admit that you are right.

Unknown said...

The edict on gossips may seem trivial but its a reminder to Muslims on the danger of gossips and slander.

And why did you not, when you heard it, say? "It is not right of us to speak of this: Glory to God, this is a most serious slander" (Quran 24:16)

A commentary on one of the most destructive of major sins.

Islam is a religion of peace, love and compassion. Lies, suspicion, back biting, slander and gossip are totally alien to Islam. In fact they are considered amongst the most destructive of major sins. This is so because these sins sow enmity and discord among the Muslim Ummah and lead to its destruction. They cause hostilities between people of the same household, and between neighbors, friends and relatives.

Islam demands that our relationship with mankind should be one of sincerity and responsibility. It should be one where we have respect for the honor, reputation and privacy of others. Islam teaches us that we are not only held accountable for our own attitudes and actions but also for anything else over which we have control or influence over, in our society or the world around us.

"O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion, indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear God, verily, God is the one who accepts repentance, Most Merciful." (49: 12)

"Behold, you received it on your tongues, and said out of your mouths things which you had no knowledge; and you thought it to be a light matter, while it was most serious in the sight of God" (24: 15)

Many of us back bite and gossip without thinking. We think it is minor matter, however God reminds us to be careful and even though we think we are doing something little it is in fact very big in the sight of God!

God teaches us to speak out against slander and try to put a stop to it.

I agree that issues on corruption etc are big issues but I beg to differ if this matter is considered trivial.Wallahuallam.

source:islamfortoday.com

Unknown said...

Hi Umi,

I am always happy to receive your responses to my posts, especially this one, which always gave me enlightenment about how things should be seen from an Islamic
point of view.
As I mentioned, I do not oppose the fatwa, but I want MUI to also pay attention to other matters which at this moment are far more pressing i.e. creating a peaceful, harmonious society by focusing on eliminating obstruction factors that I mentioned.

Anonymous said...

hi nizam i'm very much convinced if the MUI comes out with fatwas about more serious issues you will say who are you to talk about stuff like this and that they should rather concentrate on their religious issues.

Unknown said...

Anonymous,
Thank you for dropping by.
I would be very grateful if you could mention your name and libnk to your blog so that we can be friends.
Anyway, my reply to your interesting question:
As a Moslem, I respect MUI as the highest official Islamic council in Indonesia. I wish that they would always pay more attention to matters related to very important for people: widespread poverty, unaffordable education, bad health conditions, corruptions, high unemployment, crimes, etc etc.
Of course they can always talk about less important one but if they want to maintain people's respect they should pay attention to what's important for people.