Abdul Somad

Ustaz Abdul Somad
Somad in 2022
Personal
Born	Abdul Somad Batubara (1977-05-18) 18 May 1977 (age 47) Asahan, North Sumatra, Indonesia[1]
Religion	Islam
Nationality	Indonesian
Home town	Pekanbaru, Riau, Indonesia
Era	Contemporary
Jurisprudence	Shafii
Alma mater	Al-Azhar University, Egypt Dar al-Hadith al-Hasaniyyah,[1] Morocco Omdurman Islamic University, Sudan[2]
Known for	Dawah
Occupation	Da'i, hadith scholar, lecturer[1]
Website	somadmorocco.blogspot.co.id

Abdul Somad Batubara (born 18 May 1977) is an Indonesian Islamic preacher, scholar and motivator from Asahan, North Sumatra. He is currently also serving as a lecturer at the Sultan Syarif Kasim II State Islamic University (UIN Suska) in Riau.^[3][4]

In addition to his lecture, he has authored books, among them are translations of Arabic publications, and religious guides regarding individual subjects such as Qurbani and Salah.^[5][6] Somad's often controversial views has resulted in him being considered persona non grata in various countries, and he along with his supporters has been accused of being engaged with Islamic extremism.^[7][8]

Background

Abdul Somad was born on 18 May 1977 in Silo Lama, a village in Asahan Regency, North Sumatra, as the son of Bakhtiar and Rohana.^[9][10] From the mother's side, he is descended from Sheikh Abdurrahman, nicknamed Tuan Syekh Silau Laut I, a Sufi scholar of the Shattari Order who was born in Rao, Batu Bara.^[11][12] He is descended from Minangkabau immigrants whose ancestors came from Mudik Tampang, Rao, Pasaman.^[13]

Abdul Somad rose to prominence primarily due to YouTube and social media in a time of rapid growing internet users in Indonesia.^[14][15] He is well known for his humorous rhetoric in delivering dawah.^[16] His views of Islam is considered to be fundamentalist and objective with his lectures encompassing literal topics on Quran and Sunnah.^[17][18]

Controversies

Islamic views

In an October 2017 video posted on the Islamic-oriented YouTube channel Fodamara TV, Abdul Somad attracted controversy for stating that Muslims who shop or buy at coffee shops owned by Starbucks would go to hell due to the company's pro-LGBT policies. The video went viral in March 2018 with many online mocking the preacher for being hypocritical, noting that many of the platforms that Somad uses to spread his message such as YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter have similar pro-LGBT policies like Starbucks.^[19]

In 2019, Somad was reported to police for delivering a speech in which he denounced the crucifix, and stated that any Muslim dying in an hospital with crucifixes would be sent to Hell because the crucifix contained a jinn, a supernatural creature believed to exist by pre-Islamic Arabian tribes and Muslims.^[20]

Somad was also affiliated with the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI).^[21] The latter organization was eventually banned by the Indonesian government due to radicalism as well.^[22]

COVID-19 pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, in one of his sermons, Somad claimed that the virus causing it is the "soldier of Allah" that was sent to protect the Uyghur Muslims from Chinese repression. He stated that Uyghur Muslims are not infected by the virus because they perform wudu regularly.^[23] After the pandemic entered Indonesia, and some of the Muslims living there caught the disease and died because of it, including Tengku Zulkarnain, an Indonesian Islamic scholar who Somad considered as his teacher,^[24] Somad changed his stance, claiming that every Muslim who dies due to the pandemic are considered Shahid,^[25] and asserted that his previous claim that said the virus is the "soldier of Allah" is just of one of the many interpretations, and it would be wrong if people think that it is just the only interpretation.^[26]

Banned from various countries

Somad had been refused entry to several countries such as East Timor, Switzerland,^[27] Hong Kong, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Germany.^[7]

On 16 May 2022, Somad, accompanied with six individuals came to Singapore, claiming to be on holiday purpose, but his entry was denied and he was deported to Batam on the same day. Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) cited his past "extremist and segregationist" preachings as the reason for the government's refusal to let him enter the country.^[28] The MHA added that Somad, in the past, had preached that suicide bombings are legitimate in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and are considered "martyrdom" operations; and he has also made comments denigrating members of other faiths, such as Christians, by describing the Christian crucifix as the dwelling place of an "infidel jinn (spirit/demon)".^[29]

Somad then reacted in a video, claiming that "Singapore actually belongs to the Malays", and that Singaporeans of other races are just immigrants there. He added, "In the future, God willing, the time will come, perhaps in the era of our grandchildren, the ones who will be in power are the Malays and that country shall be conquered back, so they will feel the pain, impudent!"^[30] He also remarked that if "all Indonesians take a piss together and channel it towards Singapore, the island will sink".^[31] His supporters spammed the social media accounts of various Singapore's political leaders and governmental organizations, with several threatening to wage a repetition of the September 11 attacks on Singapore.^[32][33] Somad also added that he would not "give up" in trying to visit Singapore.^[34]

Claiming music as a medium for Satan's entry

In a video recording of one of his sermons, Somad said: "Satan enters through the ear into the heart via music; the songs that we often hear will be stuck in our ears, and when we go to sleep [the devil] comes, so don't listen to music." However, another video emerged in which Somad, accompanied by a piano, sang Bila Tiba by Pasha Ungu.^[35][36]

Wikipedia edits

On 16 June 2022, Somad stated that Wikipedia published defamatory information that are harmful to him. Somad claimed that his Wikipedia article called him an extremist and he had allowed suicide bombing. Somad claimed that his cyber team had attempted to change the article, but the changes are rejected by Wikipedia and his changes are undone.^[37]

Personal life

Somad married Mellya Juniarti in 2012.^[38] The couple divorced in 2019.^[39] In 2021, he married Fatimah Az Zahra Salim Barabud.^[40] He has two children, one from his earlier marriage, and the second from his present one.^[38][40]

References

1. "Dosen Fakultas Ushuluddin - Universitas Islam Negeri Sultan Syarif Kasim Riau (Faculty Usuluddin Lectorer - Sultan Syarif Kasim Islamic State University)" (in Indonesian). Sultan Syarif Kasim Islamic State University. Archived from the original on 8 May 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
2. "UAS Raih Gelar Doktor dengan Predikat Cum Laude di Sudan". Archived from the original on 29 December 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
3. "Ulama Dibidik; Giliran Ustadz Abdul Somad Lc Akan Dipolisikan Karena Ceramah Ini... - Ngelmu". www.ngelmu.id. Retrieved 13 September 2017.^{[permanent dead link]}
4. "Ustadz Syeikh Abdul Somad, Inilah Profil Lengkapnya!". DOFOLLOW BLOGGER ID (in Indonesian). 18 August 2017. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
5. "Buku Ustadz Kita » 33 Tanya Jawab Seputar Qurban". tbtafaqquh.com (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 20 February 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
6. "Buku Ustadz Kita » 99 Tanya Jawab Seputar Shalat - Ustadz Abdul Somad, Lc. MA". tbtafaqquh.com (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 16 February 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
7. Liputan6.com (18 May 2022). "6 Negara yang Pernah Tolak Kehadiran Ustaz Abdul Somad, Terbaru Singapura". liputan6.com (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 19 May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
8. Lim, Vanessa (23 May 2022). "Threats mentioning 9/11 attacks made against Singapore by Indonesian preacher's supporters: Shanmugam". CNA. Archived from the original on 23 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
9. Sudrajat, Agus Setyadi. "Ustaz Abdul Somad, Sang Phenomenon dari Tanah Melayu". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 7 April 2024.
10. "Beredar Formulir Persetujuan Calon Pengantin antara Ustaz Abdul Somad dengan Fatimah Az Zahra Salim Barabud". Joglosemar. 25 April 2021. Archived from the original on 23 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
11. "Abdul Somad Batubara, Lc., D.e.s.a., Tokoh". Dinas Pariwisata dan Kebudayaan DKI Jakarta (in Indonesian). 23 July 2019. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
12. Hasanul Rizqa (11 February 2019). "Makna Silaturahim UAS ke Tiga Tokoh Sepuh NU". Republika (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 20 November 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
13. Rusman Siregar (29 December 2017). "Kisah Syekh Silau Laut, Ulama Besar Kakek Ustaz Somad". Sindonews (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
14. Abdurrahman, Muhammad Sufyan. "Mengenal Dakwah Digital syekh Abdul Somad Pekanbaru". detiknews. Archived from the original on 10 February 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
15. "Syekh Abdul Somad dan Media Sosial dalam Dakwah - dakwatuna.com". dakwatuna.com (in Indonesian). 22 June 2017. Archived from the original on 16 June 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
16. "Abdul Somad: ustadz jaman now". New Mandala. 10 June 2019. Archived from the original on 7 November 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
17. "'UAS adalah Dai Moderat yang Selalu Utamakan Persatuan'". Republika Online (in Indonesian). 22 August 2019. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
18. "Ustaz Abdul Somad, Sang Moderat dari Bumi Melayu". SINDOnews.com (in Indonesian). 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
19. "Muslims buying from Starbucks will go to hell, says popular preacher". The Jakarta Post. 28 April 2018. Archived from the original on 6 December 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
20. "Celebrity Islamic preacher Abdul Somad reported to police for saying crosses contain 'infidel genies' | Coconuts". Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
21. "Pengurus FPI di Pekanbaru Ditangkap, Begini Respons Ustaz Abdul Somad". 8 December 2020. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
22. "The FPI Islamic extremist movement is outlawed". Archived from the original on 30 May 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
23. "Klaim UAS: Virus Corona Adalah Tentara Allah, Pelindung Muslim Uighur". suara.com (in Indonesian). 29 February 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
24. Liputan6.com (11 May 2021). "Berduka atas Kepergian Sang Guru, Ini Doa UAS untuk Ustaz Tengku Zulkarnain". liputan6.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 20 May 2022.
25. "Ustadz Abdul Somad Jelaskan Wabah Virus Corona Menjadi Berkah Bagi Umat Beriman, Setara Mati Syahid". Wartakotalive.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 20 May 2022.
26. Nafi'an, Muhammad Ilman. "Ustaz Somad Beri Penjelasan soal Anggapan 'Virus Corona Tentara Allah'". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 16 June 2022.
27. "Wawancara tvOne Soal Isu Deportasi Singapura, UAS: Saya Datang Untuk Jalan-jalan | Catatan Demokrasi". YouTube. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
28. Chelvan, Vanessa Paige (17 May 2022). "Indonesian preacher Abdul Somad Batubara, known for 'extremist and segregationist' teachings, denied entry into Singapore: MHA". Channel News Asia. Archived from the original on 18 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
29. "Indonesian preacher denied entry into Singapore due to his extremist and segregationist teachings: MHA | the Straits Times". The Straits Times. 17 May 2022. Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
30. "Selain Singapura, Ustaz Abdul Somad Cerita Pernah Dilarang Masuk Timor Leste Karena Dianggap Teroris". Tribunnews.com (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
31. Populis (17 May 2022). "Ditendang dari Singapura, Eh UAS Ngegas: Kurang Ajar, Kita Kencingin Tenggelam Dia!". Populis (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 18 May 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
32. Kok, Yufeng (18 May 2022). "Social media accounts of President Halimah, PM Lee spammed by supporters of banned Indonesian preacher". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 19 May 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
33. Lim, Vanessa (23 May 2022). "Threats mentioning 9/11 attacks made against Singapore by Indonesian preacher's supporters: Shanmugam". CNA. Archived from the original on 23 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
34. Ismail, Saifulbahri (21 May 2022). "Indonesian preacher denied entry to Singapore says he will not give up trying to visit". CNA. Archived from the original on 22 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
35. "Sebut Setan Masuk Lewat Musik, Akitivis Dapati Ustadz Abdul Somad Lagi Karaoke". suara.com (in Indonesian). 3 November 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
36. @gunromli (2 November 2022). "Katanya Setan masuk lewat musik..." (Tweet). Retrieved 3 November 2022 – via Twitter.
37. detikhot, tim. "Wikipedia Ustaz Abdul Somad Diedit, Tertulis Memperbolehkan Bom Bunuh Diri". detikhot (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 16 June 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
38. Dany Garjito (11 August 2020). "Profil Ustaz Abdul Somad Lengkap, dari Pendidikan hingga Karir yang Moncer" [Complete Profile of Ustaz Abdul Somad, from Education to a Great Career]. Suara (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 21 February 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
39. Sapto Purnomo (10 December 2019). "Ustad Abdul Somad Bercerai, Mantan Istri: Genderang Itu Telah Tuan Tabuh" [Ustad Abdul Somad Divorced, Ex-Wife: The drum has been hit by the Lord]. Liputan6 (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
40. Dinar Firda Rosa (25 February 2022). "Ustadz Abdul Somad dan Sang Istri Umumkan Nama Anak, Ternyata Ini Makna di Baliknya" [Ustadz Abdul Somad and his wife announce the name of the child, apparently this is the meaning behind it]. portaljember (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 23 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.