Persis Hisbah Council IV Plenary Session 2026 Discusses 10 Strategic Issues, Fatwa Must Be a Solution for the Ummah

The Hisbah Council of Persatuan Islam (Persis) held its Fourth Plenary Session for the 2022–2027 term at the Persatuan Islam 67 Islamic Boarding School in Tasikmalaya City on 8–9 July 2026. The session, attended by scholars and experts from within Persis, discussed various contemporary religious issues in an effort to provide relevant Sharia guidance in line with the times.

During the Fourth Plenary Session, at least ten strategic issues were discussed, including provisions on travel distance and time, a review of the decision on riba faḍl, the seizure of assets resulting from corruption, the law on temporary endowments and forest revitalisation.

Also discussed were the law on induced lactation for the mahram relationship of adopted children, the storage of ova or sperm for reproductive purposes, mandatory member endowments for the organisation’s perpetual fund, the law on producing translations-only of the Quran, the law on income from content monetisation, and guidelines on social media etiquette and jurisprudence. These discussions are expected to produce fatwas capable of addressing the challenges faced by the Muslim community amidst the dynamics of scientific and technological development.

The General Chairman of Persis, KH. Jeje Zaenudin, stressed that the Hisbah Council Session is not merely an academic forum for discussing fiqh issues. According to him, the forum represents a collective endeavour by Persis scholars to produce fatwas that guide the community based on the Quran and Sunnah while considering the realities of societal life.

‘The Hisbah Council Session is not just an academic forum discussing religious matters. This is a collective effort by Persis scholars to produce fatwas that guide the community’s Sharia in accordance with the Quran and Sunnah, taking into account the realities of life,’ he said.

He explained that the fatwas produced by the Hisbah Council do not only address issues of halal and haram or sunnah and bid’ah. The fatwas are expected to serve as ethical guidelines in muamalah, build moral character in social life, and provide solutions to evolving social problems.

‘Fatwas from the Hisbah Council are not just about halal-haram or sunnah-bid’ah. More than that, fatwas become ethical guides for muamalah, building morals in social life, while answering various social problems faced by the ummah,’ he stated.

One of the strategic issues highlighted in this session was the formulation of guidelines on social media etiquette and jurisprudence. According to Jeje, the development of information technology has brought significant changes to society, necessitating Sharia guidance so that social media usage continues to reflect Islamic values.

‘We want to present fatwas that guide the ummah to understand and practice the Quran and Sunnah, including in social media activities, so that social piety emerges alongside individual piety,’ he said.

Jeje noted a current paradox within society. On one hand, the level of religiosity is increasing. On the other hand, various moral issues such as corruption, sexual violence, and a lack of concern for others are still prevalent.

‘Ritual piety does not always go hand in hand with moral and social integrity. In Islam, faith is not only measured by rituals but is also reflected in morals and social behaviour,’ he said.

He assessed that fatwas are a necessity for the ummah and must be responsive to changing times without altering Sharia principles. Instead, fatwas should strengthen the implementation of Sharia to provide solutions to various problems emerging in society.

‘Fatwas must be a solution. Being responsive to changing times does not mean changing Sharia principles, but presenting Sharia so that it remains relevant and can be practiced in modern life,’ he said.

The Hisbah Council, he continued, carries the mandate to preserve the purity of Islamic teachings with a moderate approach in the use of evidence, relevance to the times, and producing decisions that can be widely implemented by the community.

‘We seek the truth based on the Quran and Sunnah so that the decisions produced truly serve as guidance for the ummah,’ he stated.

The Chairman of the Hisbah Council, KH. Zae Nandang, explained that the Hisbah Council acts as a working body that collects various religious issues from the community to be processed through the organisation’s mechanisms.

‘All incoming issues are collected first, then submitted to the Central Board of Persis to be selected as ten priority issues before being discussed in the Hisbah Council Session,’ said Zae Nandang.

He explained that the results of the Hisbah Council’s deliberations are subsequently ratified by the Central Board of Persis as an official organisational decision. This decision becomes a mandatory guideline for all Persis members.

‘After being ratified by the Central Board of Persis, the decision becomes an organisational decision that must be implemented by all Persis members,’ he clarified.

Nevertheless, Zae Nandang stressed that the Hisbah Council does not have the authority to impose sanctions on members who do not implement the decisions. The Council’s function focuses more on formulating religious guidance.

‘We do not have the authority to impose sanctions. The task of the Hisbah Council is to present decisions that can serve as a life guide for the ummah,’ he said.

He added that the rotating implementation of the Hisbah Council Sessions across Persis Islamic boarding schools is part of an effort to expand the cadre of scholars. The first session was held in Lembang, then Plered, Sumedang, and this year it was held in Tasikmalaya City.

‘We hope that in the future, a generation of Hisbah Council scholars will emerge not only from Java but also from various regions across Indonesia,’ he said.