By: Syamsidar

WWF Indonesia in collaboration with MUI Riau and the Government of Singingi Hilir Sub-district, Kuantan Singingi Regency (Kuansing) held a socialization activity of MUI Fatwa No.4/2014 on "Rare Animal Preservation for Ecosystem Balance" in Singingi Hilir Sub-district, Kuansing on May 20, 2015. The event, which took place at the Istiqomah Mosque in Koto Baru Village, was opened by the Chairman of the Kuantan Singingi Ulama Council, Drs. H. Sarpeli. MAg. In his speech, he said, "This kind of socialization activity is rare compared to the amount of natural damage that has occurred."

The Chairman of MUI Kuansing also explained the natural damage that clearly occurred in the Kuantan Singingi region, especially the area around the Bukit Rimbang Baling forest. He stated, "There is Rimbang Baling here, without us taking care of it, the apocalypse has happened even though it is not yet the Qubro Apocalypse."

He added, "The function of the forest has changed, if in the past there were many trees including for wood for boat lanes, now it has become a palm oil plantation even though tigers, elephants are there but it has become a plantation."
The socialization was held in commemoration of Isra' Mi'raj Prophet Muhammad PBUH 1436 H in Singingi Hilir District. This area is directly adjacent to the Bukit Rimbang Bukit Baling forest area which is a forest area with beautiful hills. Rimbang Baling is also a priority tiger conservation landscape.

Singingi Hilir Sub-District Head, Zulkaneri on the occasion of this activity urged the people of Singingi Hilir to apply religious values in their daily lives in an effort to preserve nature.

In a religious lecture delivered by KH. Abdul Rahman, former Chairman of the MUI-Riau Fatwa Commission who was involved from the beginning of the process of making MUI Fatwa No. 14, stated that there is a clear connection between Isra' Mi'raj and saving nature. He explained that the command to pray originated from the Isra' Mi'raj event of Prophet Muhammad. In the implementation of prayer, it is obligatory to close by giving greetings to the left and right. Salam which comes from the word Salimah means to save, reconcile, and soothe. "If we claim to be Muslims, we must save nature, including protecting animals in nature," said Abdul Rahman.

Anwar Purwoto, Director of Sumatra Kalimantan WWF Indonesia who was contacted separately said, "Rimbang Baling area is the last stronghold of Sumatran Tiger habitat, in Central Sumatra, especially in Riau. Anwar continued, "It is expected that the participation of the surrounding community to participate in protecting and maintaining in accordance with Islamic law which is emphasized in the MUI Fatwa."

Abdul Rahman said that the making of the MUI Fatwa on Rare Animal Preservation has gone through a process and in-depth exploration including field visits to areas that are the habitat of tigers and elephants. The team from the central MUI went directly to the habitat of these rare animals in Tesso Nilo and Rimbang Baling. The fatwa socialization process has also been carried out several times.

At the end of the socialization which was attended by various elements of society and government in Singingi Hilir Subdistrict, Abdul Rahman emphasized that the core of the fatwa issued by MUI is to save our environment, we should never do injustice including to animals because they are living creatures created by Allah SWT.