Vice President: Women Become Imams Is A Deviation

JAKARTA - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin who is also the Chairman of the Advisory Council of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) said that the practice of inviting women to become imams is a form of deviation, not a difference.

This was conveyed by the Vice President in his remarks at the 48th Anniversary of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII), Jakarta, Wednesday, July 26.

"For example, women who become imams are not different, that's the deviation of their name," said the Vice President as quoted by ANTARA.

The vice president did not specifically exemplify the case of a woman becoming the imam in question. But previously the Al Zaytun Islamic Boarding School in Indramayu had indeed invited women to become imams in prayer.

The vice president only asked MUI to position such problems proportionally.

Kaidahnya la yukkar almukhtalaf fihi, wa'innama yukkar aLMujmae e'alayh (Problems that are still being disputed (the property) must not be denied, but must deny the problems (haramannya) have been agreed). This assembly of scholars has been consistent from the beginning. Hopefully until now so, "explained the Vice President.

Ma'ruf Amin conveyed this in order to strengthen the role of MUI in protecting people from irregularities.

The vice president who is also the former chairman of the MUI Fatwa Commission said that differences are something that must be tolerated, but irregularities cannot be tolerated and must be straightened out.

"However, there are people who deviation is considered a difference," said the Vice President.

He said that MUI as the institution most worthy of being an institutional priest should be able to provide direction to the people.

The vice president said that MUI is an institution that runs on trains such as trains. The direction of MUI is clearly in accordance with the rail or runway/confinement of thought, and cannot be carried anywhere.

"That's why I often say the Ulema Council (Indonesia) as a train, can't be carried anywhere. He walks on the tracks. So if people who want to join the Ulama Council join the rails. If you want not to join the rails, you want to be alone, you want to bring the current yourself, you don't take the train, don't take the Ulama Council, take a taxi, if you can take a taxi, you can take it anywhere, you don't use the rails," he explained.

The Vice President also reminded MUI to continue to strengthen the people, both in terms of education and the economy.

MUI is expected to continue to play a role as a partner of the government to strengthen national unity, harmony, and diversity.