MUI States No Issue with President Prabowo Using State Budget to Purchase Cattle

JAKARTA — The head of the Fatwa Board of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Asrorun Niam Sholeh, stated that President Prabowo Subianto’s purchase of sacrificial cattle using the state budget (APBN) does not pose any issues under Islamic law.

‘Regarding the purchase of cattle from the APBN by the President through Banpres, I believe this is permissible under Islamic law (syar’i) and not problematic,’ he said, citing MUI’s website on Wednesday (27/5/2026).

He explained that the action is legally valid under Islamic law as it serves the public good. ‘As narrated by Imam Bukhari, it is recommended for the leader — in Indonesia’s context, the President — to purchase sacrificial animals via Baitul Mal (state treasury),’ he said. ‘In the current state context, the APBN functions as the modern equivalent of Baitul Mal. Thus, state sacrifices for public benefit are permissible under Islamic law,’ he added.

Previously, Deputy State Secretary Minister Juri Ardiantoro revealed that 1,098 cattle to be distributed by President Prabowo during the 2026 Idul Adha festival were purchased using APBN funds. He stated the cattle were sourced from local farmers and will be distributed across all Indonesian cities and regencies. Prices per head vary based on weight and location, with a total budget of approximately Rp100 billion.

The purchased cattle include premium breeds such as Simmental, Limousin, Ongole crossbreed, Brahman, Angus, Bali cattle, FH, Belgian Blue, and Charolais, all confirmed healthy and compliant with Islamic sacrificial requirements.