Analysis Of Practice And Method Of Fatwa Standardization In Malaysia And Indonesia

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identifythe reforms and elements of integration in fatwa administration in Malaysia and Indonesia, in which, the result of fatwa being issued is strong, standard, and problem-solving and brings public interest (maslahah). This study uses a qualitative method, in which, the data were collected through library research and survey. Survey was conducted through interviews with the muftis, istinbat officers, and senior academicians. The findings show that the fatwa administration in Malaysia has undergone reform, whereby, the fatwa institutions are now equipped with professional workforces led by the mufti,provided with financial provisions and legal provisions, and the fatwa issued have a binding authority. On the contrary, Indonesia has no official institutions in charge of managing fatwa affairs. Despite that, in Indonesia, there are influential non-governmental organizations, known as Majelis Ulama Indonesia (Indonesian Ulama Council) (MUI), Muhammadiyah, and Nahdhatul Ulama (NU), whereby, MUI is the most dominant organization, and thus, it acts as a coordinator between Muhammadiyah and NU. The study discovers that there are some similarities between the fatwa institutions in Malaysia and Indonesia in terms of administration and method of issuing fatwa, particularly, in using certain references during the issuance of fatwa. Consequently, these references become under control in the issuance of a standardized fatwa. The similarities between Malaysia and Indonesia is also evident when the MJFK and MUI act as a coordinator among mufti institutions