'MUI does not fully understand our political and social map'

'MUI does not fully understand our political and social map'

The 11 fatwas (edicts) that the Indonesian Ulemas Council
(MUI) issued recently have sparked controversy among Muslims. The
Jakarta Post's Sri Wahyuni talked to Muslim scholar Ahmad Syafii
Maarif, who is also former chairman of Indonesia's second biggest
Muslim organization Muhammadiyah, about the edicts and other
related issues. The following is an excerpt from the interview.

Question: What is your comment about the fatwas?

Answer: Some points in the fatwas are actually good, for
example, the ones regarding ownership of personal property and
marriages between people of different religions. Empirical
studies have indeed revealed that such marriages seldom work
well.

Others, however, do not seem to have been carefully considered
for their social and political impacts on the community, for
example, the fatwas on Ahmadiyah and on liberal Islam,
secularism, and pluralism.

I have been told that on Friday (Aug. 5, 2005), the Islamic
Defenders Front (FPI) plan to attack the headquarters of the
Liberal Islam Network (JIL) due to the fatwa (on liberal Islam).
This is really uncivilized (biadab) and does not reflect the
Islamic spirit that teaches people to be always patient in
dealing with differences of opinion.

Does it mean that this particular edict has the potential to
incite violence?

Yes, in the sense that it provides stimulus to radical groups,
making them feel they have religious justification from the
fatwa. MUI does not fully understand our social and political
map. Although fatwas are not binding, radical groups who have a
thirst for power will make use of them for their own interests.
It is as if they have been given religious justification.

Liberal Islam is just one interpretation of Islam. Even among
Islamic liberals, there are also differences of opinion. The
fatwas lack thorough, comprehensive background and study.

Regarding pluralism, similarly, it's a historical fact. We
don't have to worry about it. Even the Koran says in a verse in
al-Hujurat that God has created women and men in nations, in
tribes, so that they will know each other. It (pluralism) is very
clear.

What about the conversion of Muslims to other religions that
has also concerned the MUI?

It is indeed concerning and must be prevented. According to
fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), a Muslim who converts (to become a
non-Muslim) indeed must be punished and even executed. But it's
all the result of ijtihad thought. The basis (of this) is very
weak in the Koran. It's the business of the (respective) people
and God. No court in the world has the right to punish them. I
think this needs re-interpretation.

What about the fatwa on Ahmadiyah?

We have Ahmadiyah Lahore, that recognizes its founder as just
a reformer, and Ahmadiyah Qadian, that considers its founder as a
prophet. In this case, if we have reminded them but they still
believe what they believe, why should they be beaten? Why should
we attack them? It only damages the good image of Islam as
rakhmatan lil 'alamin (for the goodness of the world). Even with
an atheist we can be neighbors. So, let it be their own problem,
but let's work together for worldly affairs within the framework
of "be brothers in difference, be different in brotherhood".

Scientific studies therefore are needed to re-study the
controversial fatwas. But, most importantly, the police force
must not allow anyone to commit acts of violence by making use of
the fatwas. It is, again, completely uncivilized. It's not
religious at all.

Do you think these controversial fatwas will influence the
MUI's existence in the future?

It depends on whether the MUI is capable of developing wisdom
in Indonesia or whether they will be exploited by radical groups
that thirst for power. Some of these radical groups become
terrorists and do not have a future. They have nothing to offer
humanity, to fight against the wave of atheism, secularism. They
have no capital at all. I call them thugs in robes (preman
berjubah).

To be frank, both secularism and fundamentalism have similar
socio-political impacts. If secularists get rid of their God,
dump their religion, and worship human beings so that they have
no moral reference, then fundamentalists hijack God to obtain
power. They (fundamentalists) are also very authoritarian. Their
studies, both of Islam and of other religions, are all the same.
Remember, fundamentalism does not just exist in Islam. It also
exists in other religions. In fact, fundamentalism first emerged
among Christians in the U.S.

Such attitudes, (trying to) monopolize the truth, is a
characteristic of all religions. And it is very dangerous because
it does not give a chance or room for others to have different
opinions. In fact, it is impossible for people not to have
differences of opinion. Even people of the same religion have
differences of opinion, much less those of different religions.
(Differences of opinion) are legal and common. It enriches human
civilization and is not forbidden. Killing (difference) is just
the same as killing civilization.
How does Islam deal with differences of opinion?

The Koran, for example, says in an Al-Baqoroh verse that there
is no compulsion in religion. In another verse (Yunus 99), it
even emphasizes this further by saying "If God wanted it to be
so, all the people in the world would be devoted. So, do you
(Muhammad) want to force people to be devoted like you?" So,
there are no such rights. His (Muhammad's) obligation was just to
convey. It depends on the people whether they will accept it or
not. It's a matter of free choice.

Thus, according to my understanding, the Koran provides the
widest freedom for human beings to choose. It is completely up to
them to pick this way or the other, of course, with all the risks
that carries.

Does it mean that denying pluralism can also be perceived as
denying Islamic teaching?

That's completely right. I'm really sad knowing Muslims in
Indonesia, who are in the majority, seem to lack confidence. It's
probably because the Islam we have in our minds has been so far
removed from the Islamic spirit.