Clerics urge state officials to cancel their pilgrimage

Clerics urge state officials to cancel their pilgrimage

Tarko Sudiarno, The Jakarta Post, Magelang

Central Java and Yogyakarta ulema urged state officials, both in
the executive and legislative body, not to go on pilgrimage
during the haj season while the majority of the people are
suffering due to nationwide flooding and landslides.

According to them, it would be unethical for state officials,
whose duty is to serve the public, to go on pilgrimage while the
people are facing an emergency situation.

The Muslim clerics were responding to the recent natural
disasters and increasing public criticism of the government which
has been accused of being apathetic and slow to respond in
handling the floods and landslides that have claimed scores of
lives over the last two weeks.

The statement was made in a meeting held in an Islamic
boarding school in Tegalrejo, Magelang, Central Java on
Wednesday.

Among the influential ulema attending the meeting were
Abdurrahman Khudlori, Mahfudz Ridwan, R. Muhaimin, R. Muhaiminan
Gunarto, Musalim Ridlo, Salimi, Daerobi Hasbullah and Thoifur
Mawardi.

The clerics said they were deeply concerned that many
government officials, including ministers, had not given serious
attention to the people's suffering.

They called on state officials who were going on pilgrimage to
heed the example of Prophet Muhammad who once canceled his
pilgrimage for the sake of the ummat (people).

"This means the prophet placed the people's interests above
his own. It would be prudent for state officials to cancel their
pilgrimage because the majority of people are facing a national
disaster," said the joint statement read by Khudlori.

Khudlori said it was no exaggeration, as seen from the
prophet's point of view, to call the departure of state officials
for pilgrimage in such a critical situation as haram (a religious
prohibition).

"It would be nobler and more prudent for the state officials
to distribute the funds they have allocated for the pilgrimage to
those affected by the disasters," he said.

According to the clerics, the floods and landslides that have
claimed human lives and destroyed thousands of homes were not
only a warning, but a penalty from the Almighty God imposed on
the nation.

It is wrong, therefore, to blame people living along
riverbanks and in slums for the calamities, they said.

They said they were also concerned that the government,
political parties and businessmen were blaming one another for
the disasters.

The appealed to all Islamic boarding schools and their
students to actively participate in assisting the disasters'
victims.