EN.MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA — Muhammadiyah’s Religious Opinion and Reform Council has outlined several examples of contemporary Islamic legal reasoning, showing how Islamic law can respond to changing circumstances while remaining rooted in religious principles.
Speaking at a Tarjih study session on Wednesday (3/6), Muhamad Rofiq Muzakkir, secretary of the council, said that legal change applies only to rulings that are flexible and open to interpretation. Fixed and definitive religious obligations remain unchanged.
Legal Rulings May Change When Their Causes Change
Rofiq explained that some rulings depend on specific legal causes, or ‘illah, stated in Islamic texts.
He cited a prophetic prohibition against storing sacrificial meat for more than three days. The ban applied because many visitors and needy people required food at that time.
When those circumstances changed, the restriction no longer applied.
The same principle influenced a recent Muhammadiyah ruling on Hajj dam sacrifices. The organization now allows the slaughter to take place outside Saudi Arabia under certain conditions.
The decision considered several factors. These included meat surpluses in Mecca, distribution challenges, poverty in other regions, and economic benefits for livestock farmers.
Customs and Technology Also Shape Legal Judgments
Rofiq said Islamic rulings based on social customs may also evolve.
He pointed to commercial transactions as an example. In the past, some scholars required buyers and sellers to exchange verbal declarations.
Today, however, digital technology allows transactions to occur online. Such transactions remain valid as long as mutual consent and ownership rights are preserved.
He also distinguished between religious objectives and the methods used to achieve them.
According to Rofiq, moon sighting serves as a tool for determining the beginning of the lunar month. It is not the ultimate purpose of worship itself.
As a result, the use of astronomical calculations can be accepted as a modern method for establishing religious dates.
New Economic Realities Require New Responses
Rofiq also discussed contemporary financial issues.
He noted that many modern scholars permit purchasing gold through installment payments. Their reasoning reflects the changing role of gold in modern economies.
Today, gold functions primarily as a commodity and investment asset rather than a currency.
Digital technology has also created new forms of wealth.
According to Rofiq, Muhammadiyah recognizes digital assets and cryptocurrencies as valuable property that may be owned and traded.
However, such transactions must remain free from usury, excessive uncertainty, gambling, and injustice.
“Likewise, digital professionals such as YouTubers, influencers, and content creators may be required to pay zakat if their wealth exceeds the minimum threshold,” he said.
The Case of Mirin in Japan
Rofiq also highlighted Muhammadiyah’s ruling on mirin, a traditional Japanese cooking ingredient that contains alcohol.
Because mirin plays a significant role in Japanese cuisine, the issue required careful consideration.
Muhammadiyah examined several factors. These included necessity, local customs, the ingredient’s culinary purpose, and the evaporation of alcohol during cooking.
Based on those considerations, the organization permits Muslims living in Japan to use mirin under specific conditions.
The ruling, however, does not automatically apply in Indonesia.
Muhammadiyah also considered the principle of sadd al-dhara’i, which seeks to prevent practices that could lead to prohibited behavior.
Leaders feared that broader permission in Indonesia could blur the distinction between culinary use and alcohol consumption.
Preserving Principles While Addressing Change
Through these examples, Rofiq stressed that contemporary ijtihad does not seek to alter Islamic teachings.
Instead, it aims to apply Islamic values appropriately in changing social realities.
“Legal change in Islam does not mean following every trend,” he said. “It means ensuring that Islamic law continues to serve the public good without abandoning its fundamental principles.”
