THE ROLE OF RELIGIOUS FATWAS IN INDONESIA: AN ANALYSIS OF SELF-GOVERNMENT AND BIOPOLITICS DURING THE PANDEMIC

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the role of religious fatwas issued by Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI), Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), and Muhammadiyah in assisting the Indonesian government in implementing health protocols and vaccination programs during the pandemic era. In fact, not all Indonesian citizens comply with the health protocols and vaccination programs established by the Indonesian government. This study employs the concepts of self-government and biopolitics from Michel Foucault's perspective. Both concepts are used to see how MUI, NU, and Muhammadiyah fatwas can control and direct the religious understanding of Indonesian society during the pandemic era. The religious fatwas issued by MUI, NU, and Muhammadiyah play a crucial role in assisting the government in responding to and addressing the contestation of religious discourse during the pandemic era in Indonesia. These three institutions are aware that religious discourse during the pandemic era must consider medical discourse. With religious narratives considered inclusive and adaptive to the issues faced by Indonesian society during the COVID-19 pandemic, fatwas from MUI, NU, and Muhammadiyah can shape and guide the religious awareness of Indonesian society in the public sphere. This research concludes that religious fatwas, especially in the pandemic era, are capable of positioning religious discourse and scientific knowledge proportionally