TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Cholil Nafis, Chairman of the Da'wah Commission of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) said that the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) and the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) spoke carelessly about the issue of polygamy.

"PSI and Komnas Perempuan do not understand about Islam," Cholil said in Jakarta on Monday, December 17, 2018.

PSI has strongly expressed its disagreement towards the polygamy concept, and has proposed for a ban. Meanwhile, the Komnas Perempuan considered polygamy as a form of violence and does not exist in Islamic teachings.

Cholil confirmed that polygamy does exist in Islamic teachings as a sunnah. Cholil also mentioned that the Prophet Muhammad also practiced polygamy.

However, Cholil added, what has stated as sunnah was the marriage, not the number of women married.

"Go ahead if you are not happy with polygamy, but saying that polygamy does not exist in Islamic teachings is [very stupid], parallel stupidity," said Cholil.

Cholil reminded those who did not understand Islamic teachings so that they did not carelessly speak or offend Islam, especially for political interests.

"A sign of the end of time is that the fools will issue fatwa [rulings] while the Ruwaibidhah [dumb people] talk about Islamic issues and nationalities,” Cholil said.

Cholil admitted that he was annoyed that there were parties who were still tinkering with Islamic teachings for their own interests. Moreover, they did not understand the teachings of Islam at all.

"I am out of words, so annoyed. PSI and Komnas Perempuan are looking for trouble, not resolving national affairs," Cholil said.

ANTARA