Ustaz Khalid Basalamah Calls The Actions Of Shaman And Haram Rain Handlers, Ade Armando: There Are Many Magical Elements In Islamic Tradition

The action of the rain handler Rara Istiani Wulandari grabbed the attention of netizens more than the struggles of the racers in the 2022 Mandalika MotoGP, Sunday 20 March. (Photo: MotoGP)

JAKARTA - University of Indonesia (UI) lecturer Ade Armando couldn't help but think about the criticisms from clerics like Khalid Basalamah regarding the presence of rain handler Rara Istiani Wulandari at the Mandalika MotoGP Circuit some time ago. According to Ade, there are many mystical things in life, including Islam itself.

Ade quoted an argument from an expert in religious studies at California University professor Muhammad Ali who posted it on his Facebook page. In life, humans do not only act on an empirical basis, but there is a 'magical' element that accompanies it.

"I just read Prof Muhammad Ali's writing, he discussed the rain handler on his Facebook page. He said that in the Islamic tradition there are many magical elements that are not empirically based either. For example, the story of the creation of man, in praying for rain, praying isra mi' raj, kissing Hajar Asward, heaven-hell and others. The difference is that this religion is more sophisticated, there is a text argument that there are many communities of its adherents and so on," explained Ade quoted from CokroTV's Youtube page, Wednesday, March 23.

Ade added, what is the argument if a rain handler is considered shirk? The handler is a person who can clearly communicate with the supernatural world or the unseen world. The definition of shirk or musrik is the party who doubles up on God. "Meanwhile, the handler does not ask for anything from another God," explained Ade.

Even--still quoting Muhammad Ali's view--, until now in the Muslim tradition many things are related to the supernatural. For example, there are spirits in the house, good days and bad days for marriage, wirid prayer heals heart disease.

"As I said, Rara's presence in MotoGP is normal. We should think of it as an exciting show, all the gimmicks that make this international event more interesting make Indonesia look exotic, mysterious and of course let us see the handler as part of wisdom. local," said Ade.

Various criticisms emerged after Rara guarded the Mandalika sky during the MotoGP on Sunday, March 20. One of them came from the famous cleric Khalid Basalamah.

Ustadz Khalid said that the rain handler is a shaman who should not be trusted even though he uses the guise of reading the Qur'an.

"Rain handlers are shamans, they cannot be trusted as haram in Islam. Even if they use Quran readings, don't believe them," said Ustaz Khalid Basalamah in a video circulating on Twitter.

Ustaz Khalid Basalamah said the ritual of giving offerings such as eggs, kris and others was to be protected by the jinn. Because it is illegal to use the services of a rain handler.