Minister Yusril Dislikes the Book Title 'Islam ala Prabowo'

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — A number of parties have denied being writers of the book Islam ala Prabowo. Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections (Menko Kumham Imipas) Yusril Ihza Mahendra, whose name appears as one of the contributors to the book, has denied being one of its writers. The Muslim intellectual said he was never involved in any discussions concerning anything in the book.

“I did not write that,” Yusril said in a press release received by Republika in Jakarta on Tuesday (8/9/2026). Even so, Yusril acknowledged that he had been interviewed as a source by the book’s editorial team. “My involvement was limited to being one of the interviewees questioned by the editorial team, but I was never involved in discussions about the title, nor in the conceptualisation or the funding of the book’s publication,” he said.

Yusril said he had only been interviewed once by the book’s editorial team. However, he admitted he could not remember exactly when the interview took place. He only recalled that it was conducted before he was appointed as a minister in President Prabowo’s cabinet. The constitutional law professor also could not remember who conducted the interview, and he never requested a transcript or the original manuscript of the interview for the book.

“I no longer remember who interviewed me. I also do not know whether he was part of the editorial team or the team preparing materials for the book. I did not know him personally,” Yusril said. Nevertheless, after reading the text written for the book, Yusril said he found no problems or issues with it.

“After reading the book in its entirety, I see no fundamental problems in the substance presented, particularly in the parts sourced from the interview with me,” he said.

Yusril emphasised that he is prepared to take responsibility for the text that uses his name in the book Islam ala Prabowo. “I have now read the whole book from start to finish. What I conveyed in that interview reflects my views and I can certainly account for it academically,” he said.

Nevertheless, Yusril also offered criticism of the book’s title, which he believes invites sharp perceptions and interpretations from the public. According to Yusril, the general public tends to form opinions based on the title alone, without taking the time to read and understand the book’s contents.

“If the title were, for example, ‘Prabowo and Islam’, in my view it would be more easily understood as a discussion of Prabowo’s relationship with Islam,” he said.

Last week, a book appeared entitled Islam ala Prabowo: Cara Prabowo Subianto Mengamalkan Ajaran Islam (How Prabowo Subianto Practises Islamic Teachings). The book, running to more than 330 pages, consists of texts written by prominent figures about Prabowo’s closeness to Islamic teachings. One of the writers named in the book is Professor Yusril Ihza Mahendra, listed first with the subtitle ‘Caring for the People and Justice’. The book has since drawn criticism from many quarters, as it is seen as presenting a new school of thought about Islamic teachings according to Prabowo’s way.