MUI Denounces Quran Memorization Challenge for Liquor at Music Festival; Organizers Apologize

Indonesia's top Islamic body, the Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI), has issued a strong condemnation of a promotional event held at a music festival that linked reciting Quranic verses with alcoholic beverages. The incident, which occurred at the The Sounds Project festival, involved a booth offering liquor as a prize for memorizing the Ad-Duha chapter of the Quran.

According to MUI's Head of Fatwa, Prof. KH Asrorun Niam Sholeh, the promotion is indefensible from religious, ethical, and legal standpoints. He stated that the Quran is sacred and its verses should not be used for commercial gimmicks, especially when associated with prohibited items like alcohol. Prof. Niam emphasized that such actions are a form of disrespect towards the sanctity of the Quran and that the perpetrators must be held accountable.

The controversy erupted after a social media user shared a video of the challenge on the Threads platform, sparking widespread criticism online. Netizens decried the lack of ethics and respect shown in using religious texts for such a promotion.

In response to the backlash, the organizers of The Sounds Project issued a statement on their official Instagram account. They affirmed their commitment to respecting the religious beliefs of all attendees and stated that there is zero tolerance for violations of these values. The organizers confirmed that the incident occurred at one of the sponsor booths.