Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menkopolhukam), RI Mahfud MD, on Tuesday invited the public to expand brotherhood, in accordance with religious teachings.
"Friendship is now called networking. If we want to live forward, calmly and comfortably, (we must) expand the network," he said, while addressing a post-Idul Fitri gathering at the Sebelas Maret University (UNS) via video conferencing, in Solo on Tuesday.
On the occasion, Mahfud also touched on the application of law in Islam.
He said many traditions in Islam were finally able to build Islam itself.
According to him, many Islamic laws have been born from culture. “Including the Idul Fitri celebration, returning to hometowns, that in Islam, the law is sunnah," he remarked.
Regarding the application of law in Islam, he said, the law will change according to place and time.
He said not a few laws have emerged in the past as a result of adjusting to existing conditions, but they did not abandon values.
"For example, a law from Germany cannot be applied in the UK, and vice versa, or in other countries. Furthermore, the laws in force in 1945 do not match (the laws in place in) 2002," he reiterated.
Therefore, he said, formulating new laws is not misguided. He also urged people to not be too rigid in practicing Islam.
The event was also attended by Indonesian Minister of Health, Terawan Agus Putranto, UNS Rector Jamal Wiwoho, and a number of UNS officials.
Muslims across Indonesia took part in this year's Idul Fitri festivities that mark the end of the Islamic holy fasting month of Ramadhan. The celebrations this time have been different owing to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The current situation has demanded a sacrifice from people across the country by forgoing a visit to their hometowns, which is quite different from the homecoming tradition followed for decades. The regular "silaturrahim" (Islamic brotherhood) events have also been cancelled due to COVID-19.
"I feel that this is absolutely not easy, but the safety of our families and relatives is much more important and must be our common priority," President Joko Widodo had remarked earlier.
President Jokowi and First Lady Iriana did not observe the tradition of holding an open house at the State Palace on May 25, 2020, owing to the COVID-19 situation, Presidential Secretariat Deputy Head of Protocol, Press, and Media, Bey Triadi Machmudin, stated.
In its place, President Jokowi appealed to people at large to uphold the spirit of "silaturrahim" during the Idul Fitri festivities virtually, through the use of various digital media platforms.
"The 'silaturrahim' tradition with relatives and friends must continue to be preserved. Although they cannot meet physically, it can still be done virtually,” Machmudin stated.
President Jokowi also appealed to ministers and cabinet members to not convene open house events. (INE)
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