MUI Refused to Issue a Fatwa against NII

The Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI) refused to issue a Fatwa (Edict) that declare the Indonesian Islamic State (NII) movement as Haram (forbidden).

Gatra quoted MUI Chairman KH Amidhan as saying that MUI shall not issue such Fatwa because radical movement is already prohibited by the laws in Indonesia, therefore such Fatwa is not necessary.

Amidhan said that a Fatwa is issued for things which are still not clear (forbidden or not), whereas radical movement is clearly against the Law and Religion.
 

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;

Fatwa against Transvestites

Recently, leaders of Islamic Boarding Schools (Pondok Pesantren) across the Island of Java gathered in Kediri, East Java, and issued a Fatwa (Edict) banning Transvestites (Male wearing Female's dress) from Cutting and Styling Muslim woman's hair.

According to The Jakarta Globe, the Fatwa cited that Transvestites were Males, therefore forbidden for them to see and touch a woman who was neither their spouse nor relative.
One of the instigators of the Fatwa said that the hair is part of a woman's Aurat (part of body that must not be shown according to Islamic Law).

However, the Fatwa was questioned by a leader of the largest Muslim organization in Indonesia, i.e. Nahdatul Ulama, who said although Islam does not allow a man to touch a woman who is not his spouse or relative because it might cause temptation, but in this case it is different because the Transvestites are merely working.

Considering that most Transvestites make money by Cutting and Styling hair, many people feared that if they are not allowed, many of them might become prostitutes or criminals.

Although a Fatwa is not part of the Indonesian national legal system, thus cannot be legally enforceable, however considering that it was issued by leaders of Islamic Boarding schools respected by their followers, it would then be obeyed as a religious obligation.

Due to the above, I hope that the Department of Religious Affairs together with two of the largest Muslim organization i.e. Nahdatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah  would clarify this matter so as to avoid confusions.

Anti-Cigarette Fatwa

As a person who has stopped smoking cigarettes for 15(fifteen) years, I believed that there should be strict regulations to limit cigarette smoking so as to keep our environment clean.  

But I also realized that people who smoke must also be given a choice whether they want to endanger their health by smoking, or stop smoking. As long as they do not disturb non-smokers, it's okay for me.

Based on this thought, I was happy when I heard that on Tuesday, 9 March, Muhamaddiyah, an Islamic organization in Indonesia that based its actions on intellectual analysis, issued a Fatwa (Edict) which declared Smoking Cigarettes as Haram (Forbidden). Muhamaddiyah said that the Fatwa has been planned 20 years ago, with the intention to save millions of  people from the danger of smoking cigarettes.

Although a Fatwa is not part of our national legal system, therefore there is no legal consequences, however it would bring moral obligations among Muslims, especially members of Muhamaddiyah,  to follow such Fatwa, thus would prevent cigarette smokers from doing their bad habit arrogantly.

However, I was very surprised when I heard that the said Fatwa was connected with financial aid amounting to Rp 3.7 Billion that Muhamaddiyah received from the USAID, AUSAID, Global Fund and the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, for conducting clean air campaign in Indonesia.   

For details, please click here, here and here. 

Considering the above, I wish that the issuance of said Fatwa has not been related with the aid Muhamaddiyah received from the foreign institutions, thereby would not effect Muhamaddiyah's image as a religious organization. 

Photo :  Courtesy of  VivaNews/Yahoo.

Fatwa Haram for Terrorism

The Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI) is the highest Muslim authority which can issue a Fatwa or Edict declaring that it is Haram/Forbidden for Muslims to do or not to do something.

For example, a few months before last April's Parliamentary election, MUI has issued a Fatwa which Forbid Muslims from refusing to vote. Beside that, it has also issued a Fatwa which declared Yoga chanting as Haram.

Although a Fatwa is not part of our national legal system, however considering that MUI is the highest Islamic religious authority in Indonesia, therefore many Muslims individuals & organizations would obey such Fatwa.

In this connection, I felt that MUI is able to help our government in eradicating Terrorism which has been reported to be conducted by Muslim fanatics in Indonesia, that is by issuing Fatwa/Edict which declare Suicide Bombing and other acts of violence as Haram/Forbidden for Muslims.
Such Fatwa/Edict would be followed by Muslim organizations in Indonesia, including Pondok Pesantren (Islamic Boarding School) which have been suspected of trainning terrorists. For details, please click here, here, here and here.

Considering the above, I felt that a Fatwa Haram for Terrorism including Suicide Bombing, would greatly minimize the number of Terrorists, therefore will make Indonesia a much better and safer place to live.

Side Effects of Social Media

Last night I saw on SCTV the Chairman of the Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI) i.e. Umar Shihab stating that Facebook is good because it enable people to conduct socialize with others, therefore in line with the Islamic rules. He also said that MUI has no plan to discuss about Facebook.

Shihab made the statement in the wake of the news reports that a certain Ulama organization in East Java has declared that Facebook and Friendster are Haram (forbidden) in East Java if they are used excessively for gossipping and flirting.

The above statement brings a relief for me because MUI as the highest Islamic Organization has realised abouth the true benefit that Facebook and other Social networking sites could bring to people in general and Moslems in particular. Although MUI's eddict/fatwa would not have legal impact, however it would have a social impact on Moslems who would think that it would be sinful not to obey the eddict/fact.

Fears on the side effects of Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter not only exist in Indonesia, but also in the U.S. According to Legal Blog Watch there were some cases of Defamation using Twitter. According to a lawyer i.e. Howard Price if an employee spreads Defamatory postings on the company's blog or Twitter account, it's not just the employee who face liability but the company may be liable as well.
The speed and fluidity of media like Twitter can also invite disclosure of trade secrets or classified information about a publicly traded company. Due to which fact the Securiy Exchange Commission (SEC) has provided guidance which makes clear that a company employee "speaking" in a company-sponsored interactive forum would not be deemed to be acting in an individual capacity. Thus, a company could not disclaim liability by arguing that the employee's communications were unauthorized.

As a Blogger and owner of accounts in Facebook and Twitter, the above made me more passionate in writing more things which would be informative and meaningful to others, but also more careful, so that my words would not annoy others, therefore peacefulness can be maintained.

MUI's threat

Not long ago, the Indonesian Moslem Cleric/Ulama Council(MUI) passed controversial Fatwa/Edicts which determined that Cigarette Smoking, Yoga chanting and Refusal to Vote as Haram/Sinful acts.

While many people are still questioning about MUI's real reason for passing such Edicts, suddenly the news media reported that MUI is now forcing President SBY to follow their wish. According to The Jakarta Globe, a leader of MUI Cholil Ridwan has threatened the President to ban the religious secte Ahmadiyah, otherwise it will pass an Edict banning people from casting votes for the incumbent President in the next Presidential election.
Fortunately, said threat was later on denied by MUI's Chairman Umar Shihab who said that Cholil's statement was his own opinion and does not represent MUI.

I am happy that Cholil's threat does not represent MUI and hope that in the future, leaders of MUI will take actions based on the best interest of Indonesian Moslems as a whole. Because although such Fatwa/Edict are not recognized by our country's legal system, however considering MUI is the highest Moslem religious authority in our country, they will no doubt be obeyed, especially by those living in the rural area.