'Since When Did Rendang Have A Religion', Gus Miftah's Satire Was Replied To By Ustaz Adi, Linking It To Batik, Calung And Angklung

Ustaz Adi Hidayat and preacher Gus Miftah (left). (screenshot & @adhihidayatofficial)

JAKARTA - Preacher Ustaz Adi Hidayat replied to Gus Miftah's statement that he questioned the hype about pork rendang, a typical Minang dish, and then linked it with religion.

At that time, Gus Miftah could not understand. The leader of the Ora Aji Islamic Boarding School, Sleman, assessed that rendang was only limited to a menu for eating. Everyone is free to create it with a note of affixing information if it is not halal.

Gus Miftah also appealed that the hype about rendang made from pork would not drag on.

"Uh, by the way, since when did rendang have a religion?" said Gus Miftah in a video on his Instagram account, @gusmiftah, quoted Monday, June 20.

In response, the preacher Ustaz Adi Hidayat said that the tradition had been carried out from generation to generation. Likewise, rendang performed by Minang people should be given space for appreciation.

Therefore, said Adi, anyone has no right to underestimate the food created by the Minang people.

"Never minimize anything, especially if it has become a tradition," Adi said through a video on his Youtube channel, Adi Hidayat Official.

Adi then replied to Gus Miftah's statement in more detail. "There is a question since when does rendang have a religion, what is the answer? Since batik, calung, angklung have citizenship," he said.

According to Adi, the creation of the rendang menu with pork is like a unilateral claim to tradition. Adi compared it to batik, which is part of Indonesian culture, if it was claimed by another country, it would be strongly rejected by the people in the country.

"For example, if you want batik to be claimed by Malaysia or not? No. Indonesians will say that batik is Indonesian culture, it has been attached because it doesn't want to be claimed by other countries," he added.

Adi emphasized that the Minang tradition is closely related to the Shari'a. Adi's response to Gus Miftah's statement went viral on social media.

Previously, Gus Miftah raised his voice about rendang made from pork which was crowded on social media. The rendang is considered to have injured the Minang people and was associated with religion.

Gus Miftah said the guidelines for Muslims to eat and drink halal are contained in the letter Al-Baqarah. He emphasized that the invitation only applies to Muslims, not to people of other religions.

Furthermore, Gus Miftah said, non-Muslims are free to eat anything and make dishes with various concoctions according to taste.

"The obligation to eat halal food is for Muslims, yes, for non-Muslims, it's up to what they want to eat. Including what spices they want to cook, in what way, their taste," he continued.

Like the recent hype about pork rendang being sold at the Babiambo restaurant in Kelapa Gading Timur, East Jakarta, Gus Miftah said it was legal because the seller had given it a non-halal label.

Babiambo's efforts to inform the label, he continued, will make other people aware so that they can decide to buy or not.

"I actually thank the sellers of haram food who give non-halal labels. So when we see non-halal food that we do, don't get emotional, just don't need to buy it, it's finished," said Gus Miftah.