MUI Issues Fatwa: Women Are Not Allowed to Be Friday Prayer Preachers

Dream - The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has issued a fatwa that regulates that women cannot become Friday prayer sermon speakers when the congregation consists of men. Friday prayers with female sermon speakers are deemed invalid.

This provision was issued by MUI in Fatwa MUI Number 38 of 2023 concerning Women Becoming Sermon Speakers in Friday Prayers. The fatwa was published on June 13, 2023.

The Chairman of MUI's Fatwa Division, KH Asrorun Niam Sholeh, explained that this fatwa was issued in response to the controversy surrounding the statement of the leader of Al Zaytun Islamic Boarding School, Panji Gumilang, who stated that women are allowed to become Friday prayer sermon speakers.

"Therefore, MUI considers it necessary to establish a fatwa regarding the legality of women becoming sermon speakers in Friday prayers as a guide," said Asrorun in his statement, quoted on Thursday, June 22, 2023.

This fatwa explains that Friday prayers are an obligation for Muslim men and are permissible for women.

In Friday prayers, there is a pillar called the sermon. As a pillar, this sermon has such an important position and cannot be neglected.

"The sermon is part of the mahdlah worship that must adhere to the provisions of sharia, including that it must be performed by men. The Friday sermon performed by women in front of male congregants is invalid," he said.

Because the sermon is a pillar of Friday prayers, if it is performed by women in front of men, it also renders their Friday prayers invalid.

"Believing that women are allowed to become sermon speakers in Friday prayers in front of male congregants is a mistaken belief, it must be corrected, and the person involved must repent," he said.

Through this fatwa, MUI urges Muslims to adhere to the straight teachings of religion and be vigilant against various forms of deviation.

"Muslims are expected to be cautious in choosing educational institutions for their children, and the state must guarantee the protection of religious teachings from deviation, blasphemy, and defamation," he said.