It’s now approximately 3 weeks since the movie 2012 started screening in Indonesia. The long queues at cinemas screening this movie got the attention of the Muslim clerics. It is reported that several regional branches of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) believe that this movie 2012 should be banned. Indeed one branch has already issued a fatwa calling on Muslims not to watch this doomsday movie, but apparently with little effect.
But what is it in this movie called 2012 that got the Muslim clerics all so upset? The storyline of this movie 2012 is based on the belief that the ancient Mayans predicted that the end of the world would take place in 2012 when their calendar runs out. The film enjoys worldwide acclaim and box office success whereever it is screened. It seems that moviegoers simply enjoyed the apocalyptic vision of life after December 21, 2012 when planet Earth begins to be engulfed by catastrophe as predicted by the ancient Mayans.
So why are the Muslim clerics so upset about a Hollywood doomsday movie? Chairman Amidhan of the National Council of Ulema (MUI) said: “The controversial things about the film are, first, in Islam doomsday should not be visualised or predicted, it’s the secret of God.” Then he added: “For the common people, the portrayal of doomsday in this film could distort their faith – that’s what I’m worried about.”
Asywadie Syukur, chairman of MUI South Kalimantan said: “Muslims should also be careful not get carried away by anything negative or go against religious values.” And, it seems, the Muslim clerics are upset because they believe this movie 2012 runs counter to Islamic beliefs. MUI Malang head Mahmud Zubaidi said: “No one but Allah knows when doomsday will come”.
K.H. Abdullah Faqih Gufron, head of MUI Situbondo said: “We condemn the 2012 doomsday movie because it has caused a lot of unrest in the Situbondo community.”
But not all clerics share the same view about this movie 2012. Cleric Yusuf Mansyur said this movie 2012 should be considered as a fiction. He added: “Just watch it for fun, don’t get carried away.”
But MUI chairman Amidhan is not amused. He said: ”The film shows that everything including Kaaba (Islam holiest shrine) and mosques were devastated except for churches. The film is a provocation against Islam.” Then he added: ”The Indonesian film censorship body should have cut part of the scene on the devastation of mosques or the Kaaba because it hurts the Muslim people.”
So should MUI issue a fatwa to ban Muslims from watching this movie 2012? Film director Garin Nugroho said: “The MUI’s call for a ban is pointless and not needed.”
14-year old high school student Steven Benedictto said: “I disagree with the MUI that people should not watch this movie. It has a beautiful message that we all should repent and industries should reduce their sinful activities, such as deforestation.”
Think about it. Is MUI losing its influence on Indonesians? Would they obey a fatwa against watching this movie 2012. If not, why?
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