Indonesia's largest association of religious scholars, the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), has called for its members to stay away from the funeral prayers of those who had been involved in corruption, Bernama reported today.

While NU's executive board did not describe the directive as a "fatwa" (decree), its chairperson, KH Said Aqil Siradj said in a statement to Indonesia's Antara news agency that the group had issued the call as a form of social sanction against the problem.

NONE Siradj (right) said praying for a deceased Muslim was the collective obligation of the Muslim community, and NU was only suggesting that its members boycott funeral prayers for the corrupt.

However, NU's stance on the matter needs to be reiterated so that society can have a greater appreciation of the gravity of corruption, said Siradj.

NU had issued a fatwa on the matter at a national-level meeting in Jakarta in 2002.

Citing an incident recorded in the hadith (records of the life) of Prophet Muhammad, Siradj recounted the former's absence in the funeral prayers of a companion who had stolen some items during the battle of Khaibar.

"Your friend has committed corruption while in the path of Allah," said the Prophet.

He did not, however, prohibit his companions from praying over the deceased.

"So NU is just following (the example of the) Prophet Muhammad (in this) hadith, which suggests that the ulama not take part in prayers for those of the deceased who were corrupt.

"But the prayer is (still) a collective obligation of the Muslim community. Therefore, let other Muslims or the deceased corruptors' family members do it," said Siradj.