Konstruksi Filosofis Fatwa DSN-MUI

Abstract

This article aims to examine the method of ijtihad (independent reasoning) that is applied in constructing the fatwas issued by the National Sharia Council (DSN) under the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) as well as its philosophical values by deeming the use of fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) rules in terms of maslahah (benefits). A qualitative approach was employed in the study by exploring the DSN-MUI fatwas enacted ranging from 2000 to 2017. This present study highlights that the DSN-MUI used three approaches in establishing its fatwas, namely: naṣ qaṭ’i (definitive Islamic law in the Qur’an and Hadith), qauli (Muslim scholars’ perspectives), and manhaj (methodological interpretation). Additionally, the DSN-MUI completely concerned maṣālih ‘āmmah (public interests) and the objectives of Islamic law (maqāsid ash-shari’ah). Another finding promotes that 37 different types of fiqh rules were applied in the DSN-MUI fatwas, which were repeated 242 times. The Islamic jurisprudence rule that was widely implemented covered “the legal origins of muamalat (transactions) are permissible as there are no Islamic sources (dalil) that forbid them”. The quantity of use was 78 times with a percentage of 32.2. Furthermore, it can be noticed that 11 fiqh rules internalizing philosophical values were repeated 112 times. This study also offers that it is noteworthy to provide more norms of maqāsid ash-shari’a since there are lots of current issues in muamalat that have no legal considerations in the naṣ qaṭ’i.