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.