Letter: Controversy of Idul Fitri

This is a comment on Julia Suryakusuma’s article entitled “When the moon plays hard to get” published on Sept. 7, page 7.

You claim all the confusion about Eid parallels the openness and complexity of Islam as a religion. I had to break the news to my driver: This is not really a case of government arrogance. For once, they were doing the right thing. In fact, the last thing we want is the government stepping in on religious issues and deciding what is permitted and what is not — dangerous, because it would likely play into the hands of the conservatives.

That reminds me how the government, in this case the Religious Affairs Ministry, dramatically legitimize its decision establishing a date for the first of Syawal through majority voice. A staff member from the ministry said that Malaysia and Brunei had decided the first of Syawal would fall on Wednesday, Aug. 31. In fact, Malaysia took the first of Syawal on Tuesday, Aug. 30.

The minister clearly tended to the majority view of 27 backing Wednesday, rather than the minority voice of three voices backing Tuesday.

The minister, before banging his gavel on the table, asked: “Do you agree?” The participants replied: “We do!” That statement stuck in my mind. The law of religion is no longer decided by God Almighty, but is decided by the powerful, strong and large groups of people.

It was as I thought before I was mature: Religion without agreement and strong support from leaders will never develop and grow, as it has been in Indonesia.

Once again, it is clear that the law of God is nothing without the voice of the majority group.

It is as if the voice of people has become the voice of God. Remember, the minority is never appreciated His voice. Is this what is meant by a democracy? Or is it “democrazy”?

Achmad Baihaqi
Kediri, East Java