NU criticizes controversial MUI edicts<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta\/Bandung\/Surabaya<\/p>\n
More criticism has been levied against the controversial edicts
\nissued by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), this time from the
\nworld's largest Muslim organization, Nahdhatul Ulama (NU), which
\nhas around 40 million members.<\/p>\n
NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi asked the council to consider the
\neffects of its edicts in the context of civil society,
\ninterfaith relations and nationhood, as \"we live in a diverse
\nsociety and this country is not an Islamic state.\"<\/p>\n
\"Any process of fusing Islamic law with state law must be
\nwithin the framework of the Constitution and the prevailing
\nregulations,\" he told a media conference at NU headquarters in
\nCentral Jakarta on Friday.<\/p>\n
Hasyim added that the MUI should also define the terms
\npluralism, secularism and liberalism, which the MUI banned in its
\nedicts, as there seemed to be differing perceptions on these
\nterms.<\/p>\n
The MUI recently issued 11 edicts, one of which states that
\nIslamic interpretations based on liberalism, secularism and
\npluralism \"contradict Islamic teachings\".<\/p>\n
Joint prayers performed with people of other faiths are also
\nbanned, and saying \"Amen\" to prayers led by a non-Muslim is
\nstated to be haram (forbidden under Islamic law).<\/p>\n
The edicts also declare the Ahmadiyah sect to be a heretical
\nmovement and its followers to be murtad (apostates), while
\ninterfaith marriages are also declared to be haram.<\/p>\n
Hasyim said that as joint prayers are a fact of life in a
\nplural society, the only unacceptable thing would be for a Muslim
\nto pray in the name of \"another religion's God.\"<\/p>\n
He also condemned last month's attack on Ahmadiyah by a hard-
\nline group, saying that violence was not compatible with Islam,
\neven if Ahmadi beliefs were not in line with Islamic teachings.<\/p>\n
\"The important thing is to adopt stances having regard to the
\nsocial context. We've been living side by side with other
\nreligions anyway.\"<\/p>\n
While the chairman of the MUI, Sahal Mahfudh was from NU,
\nHasyim said that the MUI was not comprised of ulema from the NU
\nalone.<\/p>\n
\"We would ask non-Muslims not to be upset with the edicts as
\nthey are only aimed at Muslims, and are not the law of the land.\"<\/p>\n
Despite the criticisms, the MUI is gearing up to promote its
\nedicts in the regions. Some ulemas in the regions have even
\nstarted to include the MUI edicts in their sermons.<\/p>\n
Preacher Heddy Muhammad in Bandung, West Java, for instance,
\nurged Muslims not to be trapped into liberalism and pluralism as
\nIslam had its own rules set out in the Koran and Sunna.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in Surabaya, East Java, ulema in the two biggest
\nmosques, Al Akbar and Al Falah, said the MUI had not yet
\nforwarded them copies of the edicts or contacted them to explain
\nthe edicts.<\/p>\n
\"Even if they do, we will see first whether the content is
\nsuitable or not. If not, we will not promote them,\" said Zuhro,
\nwho is in charge of the Al Akbar mosque.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, several Islamic conservative groups in Jakarta
\ndefended the MUI on Friday, saying that the edicts had not been
\nrailroaded through by a few conservative ulemas on the council,
\nas the critics contended, but had rather been based on a
\nconsensus.<\/p>\n
Gathered at the Al Azhar mosque in South Jakarta, the groups
\nalso demanded on Friday that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
\nban the Islamic Liberal Network (JIL), which is one of the
\nstrongest critics of the MUI.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nu-criticizes-controversial-mui-edicts-1447893297",
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