How to Treat Indonesian Corruptors When They Die

Jakarta, Indonesia (News Today) - The Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) executive board had never issued a legal pronouncement (fatwa), which prohibited prayers for deceased corruptors but it had indeed suggested its ulemas be absent in the prayers.

The NU’s stance on this controversial matter was expressed by this largest Islamic organization’s chairman, KH Said Aqil Siradj, in his press statement made available to ANTARA here Sunday.

Siradj said praying a deceased Muslim was the Islamic community members’ collective obligation but NU had indeed issued a "fatwa", suggesting that its ulemas be absent in praying corruptors’ bodies.

The absence of NU ulemas was part of social sanctions for corruptors, he said. This NU’s stance needed to be reiterated to enable various elements in the society to have a comprehensive understanding about a fatwa issued at Muslim scholars’ national meeting here in 2002, he said.

Siradj said the fatwa that suggested the absence of ulemas in the deceased corruptor prayer was issued by referring to Prophet Muhammad’s hadist (sayings and actions).

During Prophet Muhammad’s life, one of his companions was killed in "Khaibar" war but Prophet Muhammad was absent in his deceased companion’s prayer.

Instead Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) ordered his other companions to pray the deceased one, Siradj said.

After the prayer, Prophet Muhammad was then asked by his companions about his reason for not being with them to pray the deceased.

Prophet Muhammad replied: "Your friend has indeed done corruption in the road of Allah (almighty God)," Siradj said.

Hearing Prophet Muhammad’s explanation, his companions then checked and investigated into the dead friend’s life.

They found that he had concealed "two Dhirhams" (coins) of the enemy’s seized properties in war (Ghanimah) before they were officially given, K.H.Said Aqil Siradj said.

"So NU just follows Prophet Muhammad’s hadist that suggests ulemas not take part in praying the deceased corruptors. But the prayer is a collective obligation of the Muslim community."

"Therefore, let other Muslims or the deceased corruptors’ family members do that," he said. The 2002 fatwa was expected to be a deterrence and social sanction for Muslims to enable them to get rid of corruption which had become an acute and extraordinary crime in Indonesia, he said.

Source : kompas

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