Jakarta, NU Online
Amid police raids cracking down on fireworks and firecrackers prior to Ramadan and Idul Fitri, the Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI) has urged Muslims against setting off explosives in celebration of the holiday.<>

“It’s okay if it is part of the culture and advantageous to the celebrator. But if it only draws danger to oneself and the environment and has no other benefit, it is better to avoid setting them off,” Asrorun Niam Soleh, the secretary of the MUI’s edict commission, told the Jakarta Globe on Tuesday.

Some people have been known to light fireworks each night of Ramadan after breaking fast.

Asrorun said that firecrackers and fireworks are considered tabzir, or wasteful, in Islam.

The MUI, however, has not yet issued an official edict, or fatwah, on firecrackers, he said, and the organization is letting the police handle firework disturbances during Ramadan.

Meanwhile, Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Cmr. Rikwanto said that the police will continue to crack down on fireworks during Ramadan.

“Excluding small fireworks, all types of firecrackers are banned because they are dangerous,” he said on Sunday.

He added that fireworks larger than five centimeters will be confiscated if found.

Firecracker vendors and users can be charged under the stringent Emergency Law according to Rikwanto, which carries lengthy prison sentences.

“Firecrackers and fireworks are dangerous. It is better to spend the money on something more beneficial or give it to poor people,” he said.

Editing by Sudarto Murtaufiq