Indonesia: Halal Certification by MUI Gaining Increasing Appreciation Worldwide

Halal certification which has been performed and issued by the Indonesian Council of Ulama is increasingly gaining appreciation worldwide. At least 22 countries with 48 Islamic institutions and international Islamic fatwa bodies all over the world have recognized and received the fatwa issued by MUI.

The Director of LPPOM MUI, Ir. Lukmanul Hakim, M.Si., adding that in the recent progress and developments, there have been many countries recognizing and receiving Halal Fatwa by MUI. Among them are the countries in Middle East region, such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which previously did not care about halal certification.

“Turkey, a secular State, which was originally strictly prohibited nuanced symbols of religion, including Islamic symbols, now has also recognized halal certification of MUI”, said Lukmanul Hakim.

Some time ago, the Director of LPPOM MUI and some leaders of MUI had been invited to Dubai, UAE, to make presentations and discuss various aspects of halal certification which have been conducting MUI so far.

In addition, the system of halal certification and halal assurance system which have been established by LPPOM MUI have also been well accepted and adopted by 48 international halal certification bodies, such as halal certification bodies in the ASEAN region, Australia, Europe and even America and Africa.

In this regard, as revealed by the Chairman of MUI, H. Amidhan, MUI has made a list of overseas halal certification bodies which have been recognized by MUI.

Combining Science and Islamic Shariah

Lukmanul Hakim described again, they give the appreciation after looking at the performance of MUI which can combine the two aspects of science and Islamic shariah at the same time simultaneously, so that it becomes a halal assurance system which is proven scientifically and strengthened by the shariah propositions in the realm of Islamic texts, the Fiqhiyyah studies.

For example, Lukmanul Hakim argued about alcohol, as the dominant content in beverages, the alcoholic drinks, which is prohibited explicitly by the Islamic texts of shariah propositions. At first, the ulamas forbid alcoholic beverages, which through a qiyash or analogous method, it is comparable with khamar which has been prohibited explicitly. And hence, all alcohol is forbidden.

Categorization of Alcohol

Then, LPPOM MUI conducts an intensive studies and research. In fact, the result shows that alcohol itself can be grouped into three main categories. Firstly, the alcohol contained in khamar, the beverage or alcoholic drink which is strictly forbidden in the texts. Secondly, the alcohol contained in many types of fruits and food, such as durian, or even rice; and thirdly, the alcohol which is made synthetically through an industrial processes and used to wash any tools and equipments, to be sterile and hygienic.

Through this categorization, the ulamas in the Fatwa Committee of MUI then determine that the alcohol in khamar, the beverage or alcoholic drink is distinctively forbidden, in accordance with the provisions of the shariah texts, while the alcohol contained in fruits such as durian, and foods such as rice, are not forbidden to be consumed. And the synthetic alcohol can be used to wash industrial tools and equipments. It is not categorized as khamar which is defiling filth or dirty. (Translated into English by Usman Effendi AS).