Liputan6.com, Jakarta - On Thursday (20/4/2023), people in Southeast Asia and Australia were crowding on the streets, bringing their eclipse glasses, to enjoy a rare phenomenon of the luminaries: the hybrid solar eclipse.
In Indonesia, people from various regions from West Sumatra to Papua were able to enjoy the hybrid solar eclipse, some saw it as a total solar eclipse, others as partial solar eclipse.
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The onlookers in Australia were reportedly cheering when the eclipse reached its totality.
During this unique celestial moment, the Indonesia Ulama Council (MUI) reminded people that solar eclipse happened because people are full of sins.
The head of MUI Muhammad Cholil Nafis said that the solar eclipse was a reminder from God to the people.
"From the religious perspective, solar eclipse is related to people's behaviors on Earth, including the destruction and the overwhelming sins," said Cholil as quoted by the state news agency Antara.
Cholil explained that the solar eclipse happened when the Sun reported to God about people's reluctance to do religious deeds for God.
Therefore, Cholil reminded people to perform religious practices, including donating money, and performing eclipse prayer.
Criticism from the Netizens
Indonesia a Muslim-majority country, although it is rather moderate compared to other Muslim-majority countries such as Malaysia or Pakistan.
On Instagram, the netizens are criticizing the MUI's statement about the solar eclipse.
"Natural phenomena, sir... just think logically 😂"
"Anything is sin, anything is haram, anything is doomsday., so difficult living in wakanda..."
"Speaking without thinking is like this," said other user in Javanese.
"Remember in Indonesia what is the most best-seller? Yups correct, RELIGION."
"The cycle of solar system has a settled rotation, scientifically and technologically it has been able to be calculated in precision, no relation with religion."
"The smartest council 😂"
"If the eclipse is in Mars, who are doing the sins 🤔🤔
At least one user came to Cholil's defense by criticizing netizens who made fun of his religious knowledge.
On the scientific path, the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) performed an extensive duty in publishing information about the solar eclipse. BRIN also created a livestream to observe the solar eclipse.
