IMPLEMENTATION OF EMERGENCY RULES IN THE FATWA OF INDONESIAN AND MALAYSIA COUNCIL OF ULAMA

(STUDY ON THE FATWA REGARDING BATHING OF BODY EXPOSED TO COVID-19)

Abstract

The body that has died from contracting Covid-19 can transmit the virus to those who come into contact with it. This fact complicates the process of tajhiz janā’iz, especially bathing the bodies. Therefore, the MUI in Indonesia and the MKI in Malaysia issued a fatwa regarding procedures for washing dead bodies exposed to Covid-19. MUI and MKI both adhere to the rules of al-ḍarūrah al-syar'iyyah, but each produces a different decision. The MUI sorts out three types of procedures that are applied based on the considerations of medical experts. In the worst emergency, the corpse may not be washed or replaced with tayammum. Meanwhile, MKI made tayammun a mandatory procedure that must apply to security layers or body bags.