MUI's Fatwa Haram on Subsidized Fuel

The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Darwin Saleh seems to have low self confidence nowadays, that he need to ask the Indonesian Muslim Cleric/Ulama Council (MUI) to announce the plan to restrict the sales of subsidized fuel (Premium).

After meeting with the Minister last Monday, MUI's official Ma'ruf Amin told reporters that MUI is planing to issue a Fatwa/Edict Haram for rich people to buy subsidized fuel (Premium).

He said that the purpose of such Fatwa/Edict is to make rich people realize that subsidized fuel is only for people who has low income. It would not be fair if people who can afford to buy higher priced fuels (Pertamax) to buy subsidized fuel.

The Chairman of MUI H. Amidhan, who was not present during the above meeting, said that the matter is still being discussed and MUI would not issue a Fatwa based on order.

Basically I agree that rich people should not buy subsidized fuels (Premium), because I don't agree with the use of money collected from Tax Payers to subsidize fuel except for public transportation.

But in my opinion, MUI as the highest Islamic level organization in Indonesia should not issue a Fatwa merely based on the request of the government, because by doing so MUI would only be a political tool.


However, I would fully agree if MUI issue Fatwa Haram on Corruptions, and/or Bribery and/or misuse of Taxpayers Money.

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;

Pre-Wedding Photo is Haram?

"Pre-wedding photo is Haram?" That's what I asked myself when I read media report about the decision of an organization called Female Muslim School Forum in East Java which declared that it is Haram (Arabic for Forbidden) for couples to take photos before their weddings.

Further, said organization also declared that it is Haram for females to have their hair Rebond because it will arouse sexual desire.

Later, I was very glad when I read that the above news was denied by the Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI) which said that it is not Haram to take photos before wedding. MUI said that the photos can only be Haram if the photos show the couple kissing.

For detailed media reports on the above (in Indonesian) please click here, here, here and here.

I hope that in the future religious organizations would consider various aspects before declaring Haram. If it is limited for members of such organization then it's okay. But if it is intended for the public, it would surely be protested.
Although Haram declared by religious organization would not have legal consequences according to our legal system, but it bring some kind of moral obligations for many Muslim.

Photo: Courtesy of Kompas.

N.U & Infotainment

I always believed that Nadhatul Ulama, the largest Islamic organization in Indonesia with 35 million members, is a moderate Islamic organization.

There are several reasons for this belief. First, N.U's former Chairman, former President Abdurrachman Wahid (Gus Dur), is a liberal person. Second, the political party that it established i.e Nation's Awakening Party (PKB) is a non exclusive party. Thirdly, its Chairman, Hasyim Muzadi, was former President Megawati's running mate in the 2004 presidential election.

Due to the above facts, I was very surprised when the media reported that N.U has considered TV celebrity shows known as Infotainment as Haram (Forbidden for Muslim). Hasyim Muzadi has even requested the government to ban such shows.

For details, please click here, here and here.

Considering the era of transparency that we are having nowadays, I believe that said N.U's decision would not have a positive response because most TV viewers are now quite wise and smart to choose what kind of shows would be best for them to watch.
Even if the Infotainments are banned, people can easily & cheaply get copies of their VCD/DVDs on the markets.
Further, by declaring Infotainment as Haram, N.U will lose the supports of many moderate Muslims , including mine.

Logo: Courtesy of N.U