National Waqf Program: The Benefit Of The Left Out

Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati. (Photo: Ministry of Finance)

JAKARTA - The government of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has decided to allocate waqf funds worth Rp597 billion for infrastructure development. However, there are those who call this policy contradictory. This is because so far the government has been considered repressive towards Muslims. Jokowi is considered to be taking the benefit of the people he has excluded. What are the facts?

As explained by the Indonesian Waqf Board (BWI) on its official website, waqf comes from the Arabic word "waqafa" which means to hold or stop or stay in place. In the context of assets, waqf means holding assets to be donated, not transferred.

In general, the law of waqf is regulated in Surah Ali Imran verse 92 which means "You never get to the goodness (which is perfect), before you spend part of the assets you love. And whatever assets you spend, Allah knows.

Based on this verse, Muslims believe that those who do waqf with some of the assets they love will achieve a perfect degree of goodness. However, experts in Islamic jurisprudence have different views regarding waqf.

As reported by Iwakaf, the law of using waqf money is divided based on three opinions of scholars. First, Syeikhul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, who allows the use of waqf money.

Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani announcing the National Waqf Program (Source: Ministry of Finance)

The opinion that is believed by some scholars of the Shafi'i school of thought explains that waqf can be used as business capital, where the profits can be distributed to mauquf alayh (or according to the purpose of the waqf). In addition, this opinion believes that waqf money can be allowed as a loan.

The second opinion, as believed by many followers of the Hanafi school, some scholars of the Maliki school, the Shafi'i school, and the Hambali school believe that the use of waqf money is not allowed.

The third opinion states that waqf money can be used, but it is difficult to use the law. This opinion, as believed by some scholars of the Maliki school of thought.

In Indonesia, the law of waqf is explained by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) by issuing a fatwa on the ability of cash waqf. The fatwa considers flexibility (flexibility) and benefit.

Regarding the use of waqf money by the state, Jokowi aims to find ways and breakthroughs to reduce social inequality for equitable development in all corners of Indonesia. "One of the breakthrough steps that we need to think about is the development of Islamic financial institutions that are managed based on the waqf system," he said in an official statement.

Systematic oppression

The government's decision to empower Muslim funds is not without criticism. The former Minister of Finance in the era of President Abdurahman Wahid, Rizal Ramli, for example. He called the policy contradictory. Because according to him, this policy rolled in the middle of Islamophobia whose development could not be separated from the 'share' of the Jokowi administration.

"Islam-Phobia is being intensified, but when it comes to financial difficulties, seduces and utilizes ummah funds, waqf and haj funds. It is very contradictory," Rizal wrote via his Twitter account.

The argument about Islamophobia in Indonesia is faintly heard. Subtle but true. One of them was revealed by the caretaker of the Bina Insan Mulia Islamic Boarding School, KH. Imam Jazuli.

In his article published by Tribunnews on December 3, 2019, Imam highlighted the unclear definition of the policy to eradicate radicalism which is detrimental to certain parties, "thus leading to the practice of Islamophobia."

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In fact, he said, radicalism exists in every religion and is carried out by individuals who damage the positive image of religion. "The government can fall into Islamophobia, which defines radicalism with the Muslim case only. Recently, the government seems to have sowed the seeds of Islamophobia," said Imam.

Some of the policies that the Imam highlighted were related to the establishment of the Mosque Police, the certification of scholars, including the preacher for Friday prayers. "The mandatory Friday prayer service and the mosques, in the eyes of the government, are suspected of being the breeding ground for radicalism."

Even though the priest said, without these strange policies, everyone would have rejected radicalism. They reject acts such as destroying or killing such as bombs in mosques, churches, temples, public spaces, or suicide bombings.

"It is the theoretical agreement of all experts. The main marker of dangerous radicalism is its destructive nature; it destroys, destroys and kills," wrote Imam.

President Jokowi, Vice President Ma'ruf Amin and Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati (Photo: ANTARA)

Likewise, Assistant Professor from the Australian National University (ANU) Greg Fealy in his writing at the East Asia Forum on September 27, 2020, accused the Jokowi government of carrying out a campaign of systematic suppression of Islamists in the last four years.

The accusation was after Fealy saw the issuance of various discriminatory regulations in state-owned institutions. "State repression can take many forms. Civil servants, academics and teachers who are considered by the state security services to be active on groups suspected of being Islamic groups can be put on a 'watchlist'."

For example, the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag), which Fealy considers has made a policy that is considered controversial. One of them is the prohibition for the State Civil Service (ASN) to wear the veil and pants.

According to Fealy, the goal of the state to suppress these policies is not only for the interests of the state, but for the sake of suppressing Islamists in expressing themselves. "The aim appears to be to pressure Islamists to give up their faith or stop expressing their views openly and regulating in the workplace," he wrote.

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Rebuttal

Fealy's accusation was denied by the Presidential Staff Office (KSP). Quoting Suara, KSP Main Expert Donny Gahral Adian emphasized that there was no policy of President Jokowi to act repressively against Muslims.

Donny said that Jokowi really respected, appreciated and appreciated Islamic groups. However, according to him, there are still limitations.

"None of Pak Jokowi's policies are repressive towards Muslims," said Donny. However, Donny emphasized that if there is a group that wants to change the basis of the state or the form of the state, the government will not stand by.

Once again, Donny emphasized that since Jokowi took office in 2014, there has been no single policy that has repressed Muslims. "Everything is given a valued place given space within constitutional limits."

Meanwhile, Political Observer of the University of Al Azhar Indonesia (UAI), Ujang Komarudin, explained that we cannot even beat us. Because according to him, the Islamic groups in Indonesia are diverse.

"There are many Muslim groups in Indonesia. Of course some were embraced. And some were beaten," Ujang told VOI.

Regardless of the government's attitude which is considered to be hitting or embracing the Islamic group, one clear possibility is that the government is currently in the middle of looking for state revenue.

"Maybe the government is already looking for money. So, it can raise the potential of waqf for the ummah," said Ujang.

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