MUI Sulsel Considerations That Allow Food Stalls To Open During The Fasting Month

Chairman of MUI South Sulawesi, Prof. KH Najamuddin H Abd Safa (center), Deputy Chairperson of MUI South Sulawesi, KH Mustari Busrah (right) and Secretary of MUI South Sulawesi KH Muammar Bakry (left)/Antara

MAKASSAR - The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) of South Sulawesi, gives tolerance to food stall traders who will open their businesses when Muslims are fasting this year, but are reminded to respect fasting people.

"It's okay, but by closing some of the stalls with a cloth or the like so they don't look full, in order to respect and respect people who are fasting," said MUI South Sulawesi Secretary, KH Muammar Bakry in Makassar, as reported by Antara, Monday, March 28.

According to him, the policy was given because there are other factors, one of which is travelers or people who come from far away who need food when they arrive in Makassar, as well as people who have permanent obstacles, menstruation or illness.

However, shop owners must respect fasting people by being advised not to open stalls in a vulgar manner as is the case outside the month of Ramadan, including regulating the technicalities of their business so as not to cause disturbances for fasting people.

"Of course, not all people who are active on the road are Makassar residents, there may be residents from outside arriving in Makassar. So it is not obligatory for them (travelers) to fast and will look for food at food stalls," explained the chairman of the South Sulawesi FKPT.

The Dean of the Faculty of Sharia and Law, UIN Alauddin Makassar, said that in Islam there is tolerance for people who are unable to fast, even though fasting is mandatory.

"We cannot assume that everyone has no obstacles, or has a syar'i age (affairs). But those who do not fast must respect the fasting person," he stressed.

Taraweeh loosened

In addition to tolerance for food stalls, the MUI has also issued a fatwa regarding the implementation of worship during the COVID-19 pandemic by observing that the development of the spread continues to improve and is controlled, marked by a declining trend in distribution rates and government policies providing relaxation for social activities including the elimination of distance.

From the results of the meeting of the leadership of the MUI Fatwa Commission on March 10, 2022, the MUI Leadership Council conveyed the bayan or explanation of the MUI Fatwa Number 31 of 2020 Dikti A.3 stating that preventing the transmission of COVID-19 the application of social distancing during fardu and Friday prayers in congregation by stretching the legal saf is allowed, the prayer is valid.

However, as the spread of the virus slows, the implementation of congregational prayers is returned to the original law (azimah), by closing and straightening the rows of congregational prayers, both fardu (compulsory) Friday, and tarawih in the fasting month of this year, because it is the virtue and perfection of the congregation.

"After removing this parrot, congregational prayers are returned to their original state, no longer required to maintain distance during congregational prayers, both fardu prayers, Friday prayers and Tarawih prayers," Muammar added.