TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

MUI heresy fears behind debate on religious greetings

Interestingly, one Catholic priest has gone against the grain by suggesting policymakers refrain from using religious greetings altogether in their official speeches.

Ivany Atina Arbi (The Jakarta Post)
Premium
Jakarta
Tue, November 12, 2019

Share This Article

Change Size

MUI heresy fears behind debate on religious greetings Harmonious: Balinese Hindu adherents clad in white walk pass Muslims celebrating the ketupat tradition on Sanur Beach in Bali. (The Jakarta Post/Zul Trio Anggono)

T

he controversy surrounding the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI)’s advice to Muslims to avoid using greetings from other religions has some people wondering: why don’t we stop using religious greetings altogether?

East Java MUI chairman Abdusshomad Buchori issued a letter last week advising Muslims against using greetings from other religions, calling the practice a form of bid’ah (heresy).

“For Muslims, it’s enough to say assalamu 'alaikum,” he wrote. “That way, Muslims can avoid syubhat [doubtful] actions that can harm the purity of their religion.”

It is common practice for President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo — who is Muslim — and many government officials to open their speeches with a litany of traditional religious greetings. They start with assalamu 'alaikum for Muslims, shalom for Christians, om swastiastu for Hindus, namo buddhaya for Buddhists and salam kebajikan or wei de dong tian for Confucians.

“The Buddhist greeting namo buddhaya means ‘homage to Buddha’, an expression that cannot be separated from Buddhists’ beliefs about [the religion’s founder] Siddharta Gautama,” Abdusshomad suggested.

Om swastiastu is also a prayer that means “may Sang Hyang Widhi [the Hindu deity] give you goodness and happiness.”

MUI secretary-general Anwar Abbas has thrown his support behind Abdusshomad, underscoring that Muslims should pray to and ask for mercy from Allah alone.

to Read Full Story

We accept

TJP - Visa
TJP - Mastercard
TJP - GoPay
{

Your Opinion Counts

Your thoughts matter - share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.