FATWAS OF AL WASHLIYAH FATWA COUNCIL IN THE CONTEMPORARY ERA: Non-Muslim Leaders, Communism, and Ahmadiyah

Abstract

This is library research with a historical and legal normative approach. The primary data sources were documents obtained from the Al Washliyah Fatwa Council, while secondary sources were the results from experts on the topics discussed. The data were analyzed by content analysis and the results showed Al Washliyah which adheres to al-Syâfi‘i and Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jamâ‘ah responds to a variety of contemporary religious issues, especially the law on electing leaders from non-Muslims, the legal position of communists, and Ahmadiyah. The perspective of this organization is firm that it is forbidden to elect non-Muslims as leaders, since the communists are infidel groups, and the Ahmadiyah are deviant sects. Moreover, this view emphasizes the position of the organization as a traditional Islamic group in Indonesia and tends to reject liberal understandings.