Ma'ruf Amin

Ma'ruf Amin
Name	Ma'ruf Amin
Office	13th Vice President of Indonesia
Term start	20 October 2019
President	Joko Widodo
Predecessor	Jusuf Kalla
Birth date	11 March 1943
Birth place	Kresek, Tangerang, Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies
Party	Independent
Spouse	Wury Estu Handayani
Alma mater	Syekh Yusuf Islamic University
Religion	Sunni Islam

Ma'ruf Amin. He is an influential Indonesian Islamic cleric, scholar, and politician who has served as the Vice President of Indonesia since 2019, alongside President Joko Widodo. His career spans decades in Islamic jurisprudence, leadership of major religious organizations, and significant political advisory roles. Amin's elevation to the vice presidency marked a pivotal moment, integrating high-level Islamic authority directly into the executive branch of the Government of Indonesia.

Early life and education

Ma'ruf Amin was born in Kresek, Tangerang, during the final years of the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies. He pursued his early religious education through the traditional pesantren system, studying under prominent kiai in the Banten region. He later attended and graduated from the Syekh Yusuf Islamic University in Tangerang, solidifying his formal academic credentials in Islamic studies. This foundational period immersed him in the Nahdlatul Ulama tradition, which would become central to his lifelong work.

Career

Amin built his reputation primarily within Indonesia's Islamic scholarly and organizational spheres. He served as the Rais Aam (Supreme Leader) of the Nahdlatul Ulama, the world's largest independent Islamic organization, from 2015 to 2023. Concurrently, he held the position of Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (Majelis Ulama Indonesia or MUI) from 2015 to 2020, the country's top clerical body. In these roles, he issued numerous influential fatwa and guided religious opinion on national issues, from halal certification to social ethics. He also served as a member of the People's Consultative Assembly and the Dewan Pertimbangan Presiden (Presidential Advisory Council) under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Political career

While long influential behind the scenes, Amin's direct political engagement intensified in the 2010s. He was a key figure in the massive 212 movement protests in Jakarta against then-Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok), testifying as an expert witness in the controversial blasphemy trial. In 2019, he was selected as the vice-presidential running mate for incumbent Joko Widodo in the 2019 Indonesian presidential election. His nomination was strategically aimed at securing support from the conservative Muslim electorate and mitigating opposition from groups like the Islamic Defenders Front (Front Pembela Islam). The Joko Widodo-Ma'ruf Amin ticket won the election against challengers Prabowo Subianto and Sandiaga Uno.

Vice presidency

Sworn in on 20 October 2019, his vice presidency has focused on issues of poverty alleviation, Islamic economy, and social harmony. He chairs the National Committee for Sharia Economics and Finance and has been active in promoting Indonesia's halal industry globally. During the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, he was involved in efforts to encourage public health compliance through religious edicts. His tenure has been characterized by a role as a senior religious advisor within the Joko Widodo administration, often navigating complex relations between the state and diverse Islamic communities.

Personal life

Ma'ruf Amin is married to Wury Estu Handayani, who serves as the chairwoman of the Solidaritas Indonesia Party (PSI). The couple has six children. His personal life remains closely tied to his identity as a kiai, and he maintains his leadership of a pesantren in Tangerang. Despite his high office, he is often depicted in traditional Islamic attire and is known for a measured, scholarly demeanor.

Legacy and impact

Ma'ruf Amin's legacy is intrinsically linked to the evolving relationship between Islam and the state in modern Indonesia. His career represents the formalization of orthodox Sunni authority within the country's political infrastructure. As a figure who helped shape the MUI's stance on pluralism, Ahmadiyya, and other minority groups, his impact on Indonesian social policy is profound. His vice presidency symbolizes a strategic compromise within Indonesian politics, balancing pluralist governance with conservative Islamic constituencies.

Category:Vice presidents of Indonesia Category:Indonesian Muslim scholars Category:1943 births Category:Nahdlatul Ulama