MUI Central's Fatwa Declaring Sound Horeg Haram, Noise Disturbance to Potential Immorality

Recently, the Central MUI officially issued a fatwa declaring the horeg sound practice as haram. The decision on the fatwa followed the results of a review in the Bahtsul Masail forum involving kiai and sharia experts.

With the foundation of three important points that serve as the basis for declaring it haram, namely disturbances to public order, immorality in the form of entertainment and free association, as well as moral impacts on the younger generation.

The reason for this fatwa is not solely about noise pollution; the MUI highlights that horeg sound often invites people to dance with movements deemed inappropriate, as well as displaying unrestricted interactions between men and women that are prone to lead to immoral acts. In many cases, there have even been reports of alcohol consumption and exposure to uneducational content for children who are watching.

However, according to the Secretary of the MUI Fatwa Commission, a fatwa alone is not enough to resolve this issue. The MUI emphasizes the need for follow-up actions from local governments and security forces (police or Satpol PP) to issue regulations or circulars that explicitly prohibit horeg sound activities that disrupt public order and damage the environment.

On the other hand, horeg sound practitioners believe that this fatwa is too restrictive for the industry and ignores their business aspects. As expressed by Muzahidin, the owner of Brewog Audio in Blitar, he requested that the fatwa be reconsidered and accompanied by concrete solutions so that workers in this sector do not lose their livelihoods. According to him, what needs to be distinguished is between the use of sound systems for official events and the horeg sound practices that are identical to crowds and wild entertainment.

No less lively, netizens expressed a variety of opinions on social media. Some support MUI's move, stating that this fatwa is important to maintain community morals and tranquility, while others consider the ban excessive and potentially stifling for young people's creativity.

On the Reddit forum, a user highlighted that the sound horeg business could be an economic opportunity for the younger generation, and called for a more open dialogue between religious leaders, the government, and business actors. Meanwhile, on Facebook, some support the fatwa with the note that the reasons for its prohibition need to be explained in detail so that the public understands the scope of the ban.

How do KLovers respond to the MUI's fatwa declaring sound horeg haram, which has become a phenomenon among the residents?