MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, SURABAYA – Muhammadiyah has urged its members preparing for the 1447 H Hajj season to follow a newly issued fatwa of the Council for Religious Opinion and Reform allowing the slaughter of dam animals in Indonesia.
The directive was delivered by Muhadjir Effendy, Chairperson of Muhammadiyah Central Board, during a gathering on Saturday (17/4) in Surabaya, East Java. The ruling provides flexibility for pilgrims, permitting them to perform the required sacrifice outside Saudi Arabia.
“I ask all Muhammadiyah regional boards that owns Hajj travel services to ensure that dam for Muhammadiyah members is carried out in Indonesia,” Muhadjir said.
He emphasized that the fatwa should be disseminated immediately. Moreover, pilgrims departing this year are expected to serve as examples in implementing the ruling.
“Since this is a Muhammadiyah decision, we as members must sami’na wa atho’na—we hear and we obey,” he added.
According to Muhadjir, the ruling offers legal certainty. As a result, members should not hesitate to follow a decision that has undergone extensive scholarly deliberation.
“Based on the council’s study, in many respects it is better to perform the slaughter here rather than there,” he said. “Meanwhile, the Saudi government, through its Ministry of Hajj and Endowments, has encouraged countries to carry out such practice domestically.”
Expanding Access and Local Benefits
Following the fatwa’s release, Muhammadiyah leaders have called on key stakeholders to prepare for its implementation. In particular, Lazismu, the organization’s philanthropic arm, has been urged to arrange the procurement of goats for pilgrims intending to fulfill their cam obligations.
Most Indonesian pilgrims perform Hajj under the tamattu’ method. This approach, widely used for its practicality, requires the offering of a dam, typically through the slaughter of a goat.
However, Muhadjir stressed that providers must ensure reasonable pricing. The cost of sacrificial animals should remain affordable while still allowing fair benefits fir the supplier.
He also noted that performing the sacrifice in Indonesia could yield broader social advantages. The meat, for instance, could be distributed locally, supporting efforts to build a healthier, more resilient, and faith-driven generation.
Therefore, he called on Muhammadiyah’s regional and local leadership structures to actively promote the fatwa. Wider awareness, he suggested, will be essential to ensuring consistent implementation across the organization.
