Ushuluna: Jurnal Ilmu Ushuluddin
Vol. 11 No. 1 (2025)

Contesting the Discourse of Moderation: An Analysis of the MUI and Ministry of Religious Affairs’ Arguments on Interfaith Greetings

Rifqi Favian (Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia)
Hanafi Arsyad (UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta)



Article Info

Publish Date
30 Jun 2025

Abstract

We will examine the differences of opinion regarding interfaith greetings between the (MoRA) Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI). Therefore, we discuss this debate and relate it to the discourse of moderation. We will conduct a critical discourse analysis using Norman Fairclough's theory. We will code data from the websites of both institutions and news media to investigate the social and cultural background, as well as the three dimensions of discourse: text, discursive practice, and social practice. Finally, we will examine the process of discourse production and consumption. The results show that the MUI produces this discourse based on its ideological heritage, which tends to securitize theological views that are more liberal. However, in the fatwa issued in 2024, the MUI tends to limit itself to “respecting differences” alone. This differs from the Ministry of Religion, which is more inclined to embrace religious pluralism.

Copyrights © 2025






Journal Info

Abbrev

una

Publisher

Subject

Religion Humanities Social Sciences

Description

Ushuluna: Jurnal Ilmu Ushuluddin is a journal published by the Faculty of Ushuluddin Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University of Jakarta. The journal is published twice annually (June and December) and consists of articles on Qur’anic studies and interpretation, hadith and Prophetic tradition, ...