Islamic scholars in Aceh called on Muslim voters to vote only for devout Muslim candidates in both legislative and presidential elections, suggesting it was haram, or sinful, to do otherwise.
Aceh’s Ulema Consultative Assembly (MPU), a local version of an umbrella ulema group independent from the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), issued the an edict, which specified criteria for leaders and lawmakers for whom Muslims should cast their votes.
The criteria said eligible candidates were “believers [who possess] good morals, are honest, just, knowledgeable, wise, responsible, show good mental and physical health, and ensure that the Islamic people’s interest come first.
“Those are standard criteria. It is difficult to find candidates who meet the criteria, but surely there are some who come near,” MPU chairman Ghazali Mohd Syam told Jakarta Globe on Sunday. “Electing leaders and lawmakers obedient to Allah and who religiously perform mandatory rituals such as salat is an obligation.”
He said the criteria were drawn from the Koran and hadeeth, among other sources of Islamic law and fiqh, or jurisprudence.
Failures to vote for candidates who meet these criteria, Ghazali added, will “create problems in the future” by paving way for corrupt leaders.
“Dishonest and irresponsible leaders and lawmakers will cheat and corrupt when they’re in power.”
He called on Muslim voters to look at candidates’ track records and warned them against taking money from candidates. He said that both giving and taking money were forbidden.
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