MUI's ruling on bank interest

MUI's ruling on bank interest

From Media Indonesia

I was surprised by a recent private TV program's running text regarding a ruling by the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI), which said that interest in conventional banks was not permitted by Islamic law. An interview followed later with Vice President Hamzah Haz, who said the ruling was not binding.

My conclusion: Making deals with conventional banks is all right.

The statements of these religious authorities should not be doubted, but as a layman, I feel confused and caught in a difficult situation because I have been dealing with conventional banks.

Though I do not mean to sound prejudiced, the question should be raised as to why the MUI issued the ruling only recently, when bank interest is nothing new in Indonesia. Even the late Buya Hamka, the distinguished Muslim scholar who once headed the MUI, never imposed such a ban.

Let us hope the MUI ruling this time is genuinely meant to ensure religious obedience among Muslims, instead of concealing an underlying interest, such as to promote sharia (Islamic law- based) banks.

In my view, the MUI should decide on matters worthy of being communicated to society, like Muslims' presence in Christmas celebrations and marriages between Muslims and non-Muslims.

AL AZMY Tangerang, Banten