Nowadays,
the mainstream Islamic groups have developed
in Indonesia. One of them is HTI; HTI stands for Hizbut
Tahrir Indonesia. Founder of HTI, Syaikh Taqiyuddin an-Nabhani, stated that
Muslims will bear a grave sin if they oppose to participate in maintaining Khilafah
Islamiyah (Islamic governmental system). This fatwa is written in his book titled al-Syakhshiyyah al-Islamiyah (Basic
Law of Islam). HTI industriously struggles for Khilafah Islamiyah. They argue
that maintaining Khilafah Islamiyah as in Rasulullah era is done for the
sake of this nation -Indonesia. This fatwa is clearly radical, strongly extreme
and untrue for several reasons.
The first reason is
about Muslims’ obligation in appointing a leader. It is obvious that a nation
or state must have a leader to regulate the people. In this case, Muslims do
not have to appoint a leader in the name of Khilafah. It is permitted to
appoint caliph or king. Whoever the leader is –caliph, king, prime minister or
president- as long as he or she can regulate the state well, it will bring the
prosperity for the people.
Second is about Muslims’
obligation in appointing leader. Muslims are required to appoint one leader as
the symbol of world Muslim unity. It must be done if Muslims are regarded as
capable in doing the duty. If not, that obligation is dropped.
Posted by
Nur Inda Jazilah
