Ministry of Religious Affairs Denies Rumour that Religious Affairs Minister Bans Qurban and Replaces it with Money
The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) has denied narratives claiming that Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar is banning the slaughter of sacrificial animals and requesting that it be replaced with money.
Recently, a video clip has been circulating on social media. The clip was taken from the minister’s statement at the Peak Closing of the Gebyar Ramadan Sharia Finance 2026 event organised by the Financial Services Authority (OJK) on 2 April.
Head of the Public Relations and Communication Bureau, Thobib Al Asyhar, emphasised that the information is untrue. Thobib affirmed that the circulating narrative has strayed from the actual context of the statement.
He explained that the minister was presenting an idea for more organised management of the sacrificial animal slaughter worship to provide greater benefits to the community, not to replace or eliminate the existing practice.
“The minister’s statement must be understood in full, that what is being discussed is an initial idea for management to make it more orderly and provide broad benefits. That does not mean replacing the ongoing worship practice,” said Thobib in his statement, quoted on Thursday (30 April).
He emphasised that there is no statement from Nasaruddin prohibiting the practice of sacrificial animal slaughter.
Thobib assured that the worship practice will continue as usual.
He explained that the idea includes options for convenience for the public who wish to entrust the implementation of sacrificial animal slaughter worship to professional institutions, such as the National Zakat Amil Agency (Baznas) or other official institutions.
“For the public who desire convenience, they can entrust sacrificial animals to professional institutions like Baznas or provide funds equivalent to the value of the sacrificial animal provided by Baznas. Subsequently, the slaughtering and distribution process is carried out professionally by the central Baznas or regional Baznas,” he stated.
He said that the management of qurban by Baznas is also supported by animal slaughterhouse facilities (RPH).
The slaughtering process is carried out hygienically, in accordance with sharia, and considering animal health and welfare.
In this way, according to him, the quality of the meat is more assured and distributed to the right targets.
“For the public who wish to slaughter sacrificial animals independently or in groups as usual, it is also not prohibited,” said Thobib.