The concept of religious pluralism in Indonesia: a study of the MUI’s fatwa and the debate among Muslim scholars

Abstract

<p>In 2005 The Council of Indonesian Ulama (MUI) issued a controversial fatwa. The<br />fatwa states that it is prohibited for Muslims to develop the ideas of religious<br />pluralism. The fatwa had provoked heat debate among Indonesian Muslim scholars.<br />For the opponent of the fatwa, the modern Indonesian state should be supported<br />by the ideas of pluralism. They are disappointed with the fatwa, since it<br />would diminish religious pluralism in Indonesia. On the other hand, the protagonist<br />of the fatwa said that the MUI has done good decision. The ideas of pluralism<br />are seen by them would threaten Islamic faith. They believed that those who<br />campaigned for the idea of pluralism are the agent for “western” interest. The<br />debate regarding the MUI’s fatwa banning Muslims to adopt pluralism ideas indicates<br />that the concept of pluralism campaigned by some Muslim scholars is not<br />monolithic. This paper would like to explore various conceptions of religious pluralism<br />among Indonesian Muslim scholars.</p><p>Pada 2005, Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) mengeluarkan sebuah fatwa<br />kontroversial. Fatwa itu menyatakan haram hukumnya bagi kaum Muslim untuk<br />mengembangkan gagasan-gagasan tentang pluralisme agama. Fatwa telah<br />mengundang perdebatan panas di kalangan sarjana Muslim Indonesia. Bagi para<br />penentang fatwa, Negara Indonesia modern harus didukung dengan gagasan<br />pluralisme. Mereka kecewa atas fatwa karena telah mengurangi pluralisme<br />keagamaan di Indonesia. Di sisi lain, para pendukung fatwa menyatakan bahwa<br />MUI telah mengeluarkan keputusan yang benar. Bagi mereka, gagasan pluralisme<br />akan mengancam keimanan Islam. Mereka yakin bahwa orang-orang yang<br />mengampanyekan gagasan tentang pluralisme merupakan agen kepentingan<br />Barat. Perdebatan mengenai fatwa MUI yang melarang kaum Muslim mengadopsi<br />gagasan pluralisme menunjukkan bahwa konsep pluralisme yang dikampanyekan<br />sebagian sarjana Muslim tidaklah monolitik. Kajian ini akan mengeksplorasi<br />berbagai konsep pluralisme keagamaan di kalangan sarjana Muslim Indonesia.</p><p> </p>