Erwida Maulia, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has called on Indonesian Muslims to alter their perception of mudik (journeying to one's hometown), citing the many people who died in road accidents during the Idul Fitri holiday.
The MUI says mudik should no longer be considered sunna (traditional Islamic custom based on the words and deeds of the Prophet Muhammad), but rather makruh (an offensive act).
MUI deputy chairman Amidhan said in Jakarta on Friday that many Indonesian Muslims who had migrated to urban areas believed mudik was sunna because it advocated silaturrahim (maintaining ties of friendship and family). However, Amidhan said the destruction and death that the tradition had sparked meant it could not be considered sacred.
"Islam profoundly respects human life. Any activities that inevitably result in casualties are haram (forbidden); so we perhaps need to redefine the status of mudik," Amidhan told The Jakarta Post. "This is for now still only a discourse, but we'll try to discuss the issue in meetings of the MUI's edict commission."
Amidhan said the annual Idul Fitri exodus should be regulated to avoid fatalities, adding that motorcycles should not be allowed to carry more than two people during the occasion to reduce casualties. "Or, travelers could be divided into groups, which would be easier to supervise," Amidhan said.
According to the National Police, this year's exodus saw 1,320 traffic accidents, resulting in 616 fatalities, a decline from 1,875 accidents and 798 fatalities last year.
This year, 780 travelers were seriously injured in accidents, while 1,336 suffered minor injuries. In 2007, the figures were 952 and 2,034, respectively. The bulk of the injured were motorcyclists. This year, an estimated 2.5 million motorcycles were used during the exodus.
MUI's edict commission will also discuss how to regulate the distribution of alms to avoid further loss of life, Amidhan said. Last month, 21 women, most of them of old age, died during a stampede when a local businessman was distributing Rp 30,000 (US$3.12) in alms to hundreds of people in Pasuruan, East Java.
The incidence has raised debate over how zakat (mandatory alms) and shadaqah (suggested alms) should be distributed in the country.
Citing the Koran, Amidhan said the distribution of alms should be managed by the state, but added that it was forbidden to prevent people from directly distributing alms to the poor in times of need.
"It is a tradition here that alms be distributed via local figures, such as the ulemas and kyai. The donators don't want to channel their funds through official institutions". "But, (they should understand) that good intentions that result in deaths will annul the value of the offered awards in the eyes of God."