MUI Confirms Sharia Compliance of President's State-Funded Qurban

Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) speaks out in response to the controversy over President Prabowo Subianto’s purchase of sacrificial animals using state budget funds through the Presidential Assistance (Banpres) scheme. MUI stated that the President’s purchase of qurban animals via state funds is not problematic under Islamic law. The move is deemed Sharia-compliant as it serves the broader public interest.

“Regarding the purchase of cattle from the state budget by the President through Banpres, I believe there is no issue (it is permissible) under Sharia,” said MUI’s Fatwa Commission Chairman, Professor KH Asrorun Niam Sholeh.

Prof Niam, as he is commonly known, explained that the model of state leaders acquiring sacrificial animals using national funds has strong foundations in Islamic jurisprudence. The UIN Jakarta professor of fiqh cited a hadith from Imam Bukhari detailing the procedure for leaders or imams to perform qurban. “As narrated by Imam Bukhari, it is recommended for an imam – in Indonesia’s context, the President – to purchase sacrificial animals through Baitul Mal (the state treasury),” he explained.

The head of An-Nahdlah Islamic Boarding School added that in the current national context, the state budget (APBN) functions as a modern Baitul Mal. Therefore, the President’s qurban using these funds is, in essence, a sacrifice made on behalf of the nation for the welfare of the people.