THE ROLE OF RELIGIOUS FATWAS IN INDONESIA: AN ANALYSIS OF SELF-GOVERNMENT AND BIOPOLITICS DURING THE PANDEMIC
Abstract
This study analyzes the role of religious fatwas issued by the Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI), Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), and Muhammadiyah in supporting the Indonesian government's implementation of health protocols and vaccination programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, low compliance with some protocols and programs persists among segments of the Indonesian population. Understanding the impact of these religious pronouncements on compliance behavior is crucial for effective pandemic management. This study employs the concepts of self-government and biopolitics from Michel Foucault's perspective to analyze how religious fatwas issued by the Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI), Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), and Muhammadiyah shape and influence the religious understanding of Indonesian society during the COVID-19 pandemic. It specifically focuses on fatwas related to pandemic protocols and vaccination programs, investigating how they address contestations within religious discourse. The analysis demonstrates that these institutions are aware of the need for religious narratives to be inclusive and adaptive to the challenges faced by Indonesian society. By integrating scientific knowledge into their pronouncements, fatwas from MUI, NU, and Muhammadiyah have played a crucial role in guiding religious awareness within the public sphere. This research concludes that, during the pandemic, religious fatwas can effectively position religious discourse and scientific knowledge proportionally, promoting public health and social cohesion.
Abstrak: Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis peran fatwa-fatwa keagamaan yang dikeluarkan oleh MUI, NU, dan Muhammadiyah dalam membantu pemerintah Indonesia dalam melaksanakan protokol kesehatan dan program vaksinasi selama era pandemi. Faktanya, tidak semua warga Indonesia patuh terhadap protokol kesehatan dan program vaksinasi yang ditetapkan oleh pemerintah Indonesia. Studi ini menggunakan konsep self-government dan biopolitics perspektif Michel Foucault. Kedua konsep tersebut digunakan untuk melihat bagaimana fatwa MUI, NU, dan Muhammadiyah dapat mengontrol dan mengarahkan pemahaman keagamaan masyarakat Indonesia selama era pandemi. Fatwa-fatwa keagamaan yang dikeluarkan oleh MUI, NU, dan Muhammadiyah memainkan peran penting dalam membantu pemerintah dalam menyikapi dan merespons kontestasi wacana keagamaan selama era pandemi di Indonesia. Ketiga lembaga ini menyadari bahwa wacana keagamaan selama era pandemi harus mempertimbangkan wacana medis. Dengan narasi keagamaan yang dianggap inklusif dan adaptif terhadap masalah yang dihadapi masyarakat Indonesia selama pandemi Covid-19, fatwa dari MUI, NU, dan Muhammadiyah mampu membentuk dan mengarahkan kesadaran keagamaan masyarakat Indonesia di ruang publik. Penelitian ini menyimpulkan bahwa fatwa-fatwa keagamaan, khususnya di era pandemi, mampu memposisikan wacana keagamaan dan pengetahuan saintifik secara proporsional.
Kata Kunci: Era Pandemi, Fatwa Keagamaan, MUI, NU, Muhammadiyah
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