AIDS union acceptable, say ulemas<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Leading East Java ulemas concluded their two-day
\ndeliberations on contemporary social problems yesterday, agreeing
\nthat marriage to an AIDS patient is religiously valid, Antara
\nreported yesterday.<\/p>\n
They ruled that the marriage is makruh, a technical term in
\nsharia (Islamic law) which means that a deed is permissible, but
\nnot preferred.<\/p>\n
In addition, those who are already married to people with
\nAcquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome may pursue nullification of
\ntheir marriage, spokesman K.H. Sidqi Mudzhar said.<\/p>\n
\"The ulemas are of the opinion that AIDS sufferers are still
\nhuman beings, after all, and that the disease may someday be
\ncured,\" Mudzhar said in explaining the grounds for the ulemas'
\ndecision.<\/p>\n
The ulemas are members of the East Java chapter of Indonesia's
\nlargest Moslem organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU). Other
\ncontemporary social problems they discussed included marriages
\nperformed through Internet linkups, which they said are not
\nvalid.<\/p>\n
\"Marriage by proxy is permissible, but if the brides and
\ngrooms or their representatives are not in the same forum, then
\nthe marriage is not valid,\" the ulemas said.<\/p>\n
The meeting, called bahsaul matsail, was opened by the chief
\nof Brawijaya regional military command, Maj. Gen. Imam Utomo, and
\nwas closed by NU chairman Abdurrahman Wahid.<\/p>\n
The ulemas also ruled that wiping oneself with toilet paper
\ncan be considered \"clean\" and that the person can then be allowed
\nto pray. Islam teaches its followers to wash themselves with
\nclean water after they go to the bathroom. (swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/aids-union-acceptable-say-ulemas-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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