Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) KH Ma`ruf Amin asked that the eradication of terrorism does not corner Muslims.
"We do not want the eradication of terrorism to corner Muslims, which will only add to new problems," he told ANTARA in Jakarta, Monday (4/10).
He said terrorism was not synonymous with Islam. Terrorism, according to him, is also not jihad, and his party has issued a fatwa against terrorism.
"Terrorism is haram, because terrorism causes damage, fear and unclear targets," he said.
He revealed that the recent increase in terrorist activity needs to be watched out for.
However, he hoped that the pursuit and eradication by the authorities would not stigmatize Islam.
He agreed with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to take firm action against terrorists.
"But it must be clear, don't just arrest it and make it appear as if it discredits Islam," he said.
Meanwhile, President Yudhoyono, in the opening of the Plenary Cabinet Session at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Monday, asked the Police, TNI, and intelligence to cooperate properly in uncovering and arresting terrorist networks that still exist in the country.
The security apparatus, said the President, must focus on taking action against and preventing all forms of violence that are troubling the people.
Since 2003, the MUI has issued a fatwa related to terrorism. This is stated in the Decree of the Ijtima Ulama of the Fatwa Commission throughout Indonesia on the Fatwa on Terrorism, dated 22 Syawal 1424/16 December 2003 and the Decree of the MUI Fatwa Commission Meeting, dated 05 Dzulhijjah 1424/24 January 2004.
According to the MUI, terrorism is an act of crime against humanity and civilization that poses a serious threat to state sovereignty, a danger to security, world peace and detrimental to the welfare of society.
Terrorism is a form of crime that is well organized, trans-national in nature and classified as an extra-ordinary crime that does not differentiate between targets (discriminatory).
Meanwhile, according to MUI, jihad has two definitions. First, all efforts and utmost efforts and willingness to endure difficulties in fighting and restraining enemy aggression in all its forms. Jihad in this sense is also called "al qital" or "al-harb".
Second, all serious and continuous efforts to protect and exalt Allah's religion (li i'lai sentenceillah).
The MUI fatwa also reveals the difference between terrorism and jihad. According to MUI, terrorism has a destructive nature (ifsad) and anarchic / chaos (faudha), aims to create fear and / or destroy others and is carried out without rules and targets without limits.
While jihad is to make improvements (please) even by means of war with the aim of upholding the religion of Allah and / or defending the rights of those who are wronged and carried out by following the rules determined by the Shari'ah with clear enemy targets. (AMONG)
