MUI's fatwa encourage use of violence

MUI's fatwa encourage use of violence

Concluding its seventh congress last week, the Indonesian Ulema
Council (MUI) issued eleven fatwa that sparked concern over its
increasingly conservative stance. Prominent Muslim scholar and
rector of the Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University
Azyumardi Azra shared over the weekend with The Jakarta Post's
Ridwan Max Sijabat his opinion on the controversial views of the
MUI.

Question: The MUI has issued several contentious fatwa. What
is your comment?

Answer: It is most regrettable that the MUI seems to be
issuing edicts without consulting the relevant Muslim figures, or
dialog with the parties concerned. The fatwa are not enforceable,
nor are they binding. It does not have the authority to enforce
them.

What do you think is the background of this growing
conservatism?

There is something that has been changing in the organization
-- before and entering the reform era. The MUI has shifted from
being umat-oriented to being government-oriented. During the New
Order era, the MUI was used by former president Soeharto's regime
as a tool to justify government policies. For instance, the MUI
issued a fatwa that allowed the consumption of frogs. The edict
was issued to annul another edict banning frog consumption --
issued by the MUI's West Sumatra branch -- and to support the
government policy on the acceleration of non-oil commodity
exports.

Entering the reform era, the MUI sought to be independent and
become closer to the umat (members of the Muslim community). But
the fact is that the MUI does not represent all Muslims and this
is evident in the increasing number of Muslims questioning and
denouncing the edicts.

Why have pluralism, liberalism and secularism been declared
forbidden? Are they really against Islam?

The problem here is that the MUI has an understanding that
differs from the academic perception on the three isms, because
they are dominated by groups who take the Koran and hadith
(Prophet Muhammad's sayings) literally and without any rationale
or logic.

The Koran teaches tolerance -- including of other religions.
The Koran, Prophet Muhammad and Islamic teachings accept
differences not only as a reality but also as Allah's grace.

Liberalism is forbidden because the MUI is of the opinion that
liberals no longer believe in the Koran, Prophet Muhammad and
true Islamic teachings.

The MUI cannot ban Muslims from thinking, because pluralism,
liberalism and secularism are not ideologies but ways of
thinking. To some extent, the MUI's fatwa are against freedom of
expression and human rights in general.

Why are the edicts outlawing mixed marriages, and on joint
prayers with people of different faiths, considered
controversial?

The fatwa banning mixed marriages between people of different
faiths and of joint prayers performed with people from other
faiths negates pluralism. Islam is not the only religion in the
country and Muslims have to be able to live side-by-side with
people of different faiths.

With the growing controversy, many people are starting to
question the necessity of an organization such as the MUI.

But it must be underlined that the MUI is not a state
institution. It can issue fatwa and orders to Muslims, but they
are not binding and it does no have the authority to enforce
them. Legal authorities in the government have no obligation to
enforce the edicts while Muslims are not obliged to comply with
them.

Because the MUI has no authority to enforce the controversial
fatwa, it is the hard-line groups, like the Islam Defenders Front
(FPI) who appear at the frontline to pressure the authorities to
enforce them. If they believe the authorities have failed, they
(the hard-line groups) could directly come to the field to
enforce them. I fear that hard-liners will head to Parung in
Bogor regency, to bulldoze the Ahmadiyah boarding school and
drive away its supporters based on the MUI's fatwa that Ahmadiyah
is a heretical sect.

What would you recommend for the MUI in the future?

The MUI should clearly pause for reflection. The MUI plays a
strategic role in this predominantly Muslim nation and,
therefore, it should consult with all stakeholders in the Muslim
community before issuing fatwa.

The MUI will be fully respected and its edicts will be
complied with if the edicts are based on fiqih (Islamic
jurisprudence) -- not on political interests -- dialogs with all
stakeholders and the interests of all Muslims and of the nation
in general.

Honestly, I have received many telephone calls complaining
about the edicts.