MUI's edict

I very much regret one of the edicts that the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) issued in its recent national conference, namely the one about Ahmadiyah being a heretical Islamic sect. This edict has caused anarchic acts to be carried out against several institutions owned by Ahmadiyah, such as its campus, mosques and schools.

Labeling a particular sect as heretical requires honesty and transparency. In this context, we must view the problem with a clear mind and must not simply lash out at a particular sect and call it heretical.

Ahmadiyah must not be reduced to a sect contradicting the Islamic aqidah (faith) simply because they believe that Mirza Ghulam is the last prophet. In this regard, it must be borne in mind that Islam has a principle that Muslims always adhere to strictly, that is, khairu al-umuri ausathuha, or the best of things is that which is in the middle course. This means that there must be balance in one's application of a rule. One must not lean too far to the right nor too far to the left. Muslims have been created as ummatan wasathan, a concept that should not be interpreted as simply people standing in a neutral position amidst those professing Christianity, Judaism and other religions, but, rather, as a piece of advice that in every matter Muslims must practice moderation, including, of course, in dealing with the Ahmadiyah sect.

ACHSIN E-QUDSY Jakarta