MUI prohibits study as a practical political campaign event in today's history, April 27, 2018

History today, nine years ago, April 27, 2018, the General Chair of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Ma'ruf Amin, emphasized that it was forbidden to use sermons as a political campaign. He did not want places of worship like mosques to be used as a place to spread short-term political interests.

Previously, identity politics had a big influence in political contests. The narrative was acknowledged by a national figure, Amien Rais. He revealed that Muslims must strengthen each other. He wants every lesson to be interspersed with politics.

The 2017 DKI Jakarta Regional Election is often considered a political contest that is closely related to identity politics. This narrative made Anies Baswedan able to defeat Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) who is not Muslim.

Many consider Anies' victory as a form of politicization of religion. Amien Rais also has a different view. The national figure sees Anies' victory as a form of a great victory for Muslims.

The former Muhammadiyah chairman saw Anies' victory as a form of Muslims being able to unite against religious defamation. Amien also began to invite Muslims to look at the 2019 presidential election on April 24, 2018. He considers that Muslims must choose a candidate who cares about being close to Muslims.

The narrative is considered a form of concern for Muslims about the fate of the country. Amien also does not want Muslims to lose momentum. He asked that every lesson always be interspersed with political messages. Amien's narrative was also countered with pros and cons.

Those who support it consider places of worship such as mosques must be political conduits. Those who reject it consider mosques cannot be used for short-term political interests.

All of this is because the problems caused can have long-term consequences. Amien's statement was also taken seriously by the Minister of Religion, Lukman Hakim Saifuddin. He considered Amies' statement to have the potential to divide the faith of Muslims.

"So it's better to ask Pak Amien Rais. He should explain first what is meant by politics. For example, choose A, don't choose B. Choose party A, don't choose party B. He has mentioned the party, mentioned the name, it is practical politics and it will divide the people."

"This pragmatic politics should be prevented from being discussed in houses of worship. Because the political aspirations of the congregation are different. When houses of worship are used as a place to discuss pragmatic politics, it will cause conflicts and disputes among the congregation itself," said Lukman as quoted by the lamankompas.com, April 26, 2018.

Instead of only the Ministry of Religion speaking out, the MUI also commented on April 27, 2018. The MUI prohibits study as a place for practical political campaigns. Short-term practical politics is considered to only divide the people.

MUI also revealed that political sermons were not completely prohibited in lectures. However, the sermons in question were not practical politics, but national politics which incidentally talked a lot about optimism of being a nation and state.

"That's what we hope for, don't use places of worship, government offices, teachings as a forum for campaigning. (It) is politicized, used for short-term political interests. If religious politics, national politics and statehood must. If politics that is not imbued with religion will later become unmannerly politics, then money politics," said the General Chairman of the MUI, Ma'ruf, as quoted by the Kumparan page, April 27, 2018.