MUI's ruling on bank interest<\/p>\n
From Media Indonesia<\/p>\n
I was surprised by a recent private TV program's running text
\nregarding a ruling by the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI), which
\nsaid that interest in conventional banks was not permitted by
\nIslamic law. An interview followed later with Vice President
\nHamzah Haz, who said the ruling was not binding.<\/p>\n
My conclusion: Making deals with conventional banks is all
\nright.<\/p>\n
The statements of these religious authorities should not be
\ndoubted, but as a layman, I feel confused and caught in a
\ndifficult situation because I have been dealing with conventional
\nbanks.<\/p>\n
Though I do not mean to sound prejudiced, the question should
\nbe raised as to why the MUI issued the ruling only recently, when
\nbank interest is nothing new in Indonesia. Even the late Buya
\nHamka, the distinguished Muslim scholar who once headed the MUI,
\nnever imposed such a ban.<\/p>\n
Let us hope the MUI ruling this time is genuinely meant to
\nensure religious obedience among Muslims, instead of concealing
\nan underlying interest, such as to promote sharia (Islamic law-
\nbased) banks.<\/p>\n
In my view, the MUI should decide on matters worthy of being
\ncommunicated to society, like Muslims' presence in Christmas
\ncelebrations and marriages between Muslims and non-Muslims.<\/p>\n
AL AZMY
\nTangerang, Banten<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/muis-ruling-on-bank-interest-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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