Minister Of Religion Clarifies Guyonan "Select AMIN Bid'ah"

Minister Of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas/DOK SPECIAL

JAKARTA - Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas clarified the joke "Select Amin Bid'ah" which he has raised in Surabaya, East Java, and has become the subject of discussion in various media.

"So there used to be the Head of the Ministry of Religion's Balitbang Suyitno, when MC (the singer of the event) called his name, how come there was an additional Amin, I was surprised," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, September 15.

"As far as I know, his name is Suyitno, there is no Amin. Now I say this is strange, there is Amin's name, because the presidential election is busy, then that's it. There is no context, so the context is joking," said the Minister of Religion, who is familiarly called Gus Men.

Meanwhile, regarding bid'ah, Gus Men said that bid'ah is a neutral term, even in certain cases it can be a positive thing.

"What does it mean bid'ah? It's novelty, novelty, creation, it's bid'ah," he explained.

Gus Men dismissed a number of people who interpreted bid'ah as a negative connotation, because literally, bid'ah means creative and novelty.

"Yes, it was a joke, and the bid'ah was a neutral word, then many people hit him with religious terms," added the Minister of Religion.

Gus Men appealed to the public to undergo this election euphoria in a relaxed manner, not to be tense, and to enjoy it cheerfully.

"We face differences that have become our nature. Our destiny is all different, so we enjoy this difference. Indonesia celebrates this democracy with joy, just laughing. Seriously, you can, but don't be tense," said Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.