Indonesia is a multicultural society comprising of diversecultural, ethnic, linguistic and religious communities. The diversity within each community encompassing various dimensions is no less significant. This chapter examines Islamic legal opinion (fatwā) about religious pluralism within the Muslim community of Indonesia. It focuses on the legal opinion (fatwā) of the Central Board of Indonesian Council of Religious Scholars (Majelis Ulama Indonesia, MUI) in the matter of religious pluralism within Indonesian society and their implications on the lives and well-being of members of the community. More specifically, it will examine the genesis, justifications for and dominant mode of thinking underlying the legal opinion (fatwā). These provide a mirror of the role of legal opinion (fatwā) in shaping the discourse and practice of religious pluralism and tolerance in the country. A discussion on a plurality of Islam and the diversity within Indonesian Islam itself provides the backdrop of the issues at stake.

It is surprising that whilst Indonesia is a religiously plural society where diversity of religions, religious ideas and practices are integral to daily life; differences in understanding and experiencing religion have become sources of controversy both at theological and empirical levels. On a theological level, it has become a highly-debated subject particularly by Muslim scholars and religious leaders. At the practical point of view, on the other hand, it has fuelled intra-religious social tensions and conflicts among Muslim groups. Theoretically, the concept of pluralism is broad and encompasses domains extending beyond religion. Essentially it denounces a monolithic understanding of politics, law, cultures and religion. This chapter, however, will deal only with the discourse of religious pluralism and freedom of religion, as espoused by the MUI through the legal opinion (fatwā) that it proclaims. The legal opinion (fatwā) reveals not only MUI's perception and stance on the religious status of non-Muslims and freedom of belief in general, but more significantly it also extends to the views and judgment on the diversity of religious belief within Indonesian Muslim community itself. It is this dimension which forms the focus of analysis in this chapter.

Plurality of Islam and Religious Pluralism in Indonesia

It is important to understand the fact of plurality of Islam in Indonesia to evaluate the mode of thinking and values underlying the legal opinion (fatwā) issued by MUI.