'Bidaah' resonates in Indonesia because it's the reality there - Amin Idris
When asked why such practices occur, he said his Indonesian friends believe it is because people often follow those in robes and turbans without questioning their authority.
Malaysian drama series 'Bidaah' is making waves, topping streaming service Viu’s list of the 10 most-watched shows even outranking popular K-dramas.
The buzz is not just local either. Bidaah has struck a chord with viewers in Indonesia and it is also trending as one of the most searched titles in Thailand, Singapore and Brunei.
As of 26 March, the drama has amassed 134 million views and 44 million engagements on Viu Malaysia’s social media platforms.
Celebrity preacher Amin Idris shared that he reached out to some Indonesian friends he met while studying at the International Islamic University Malaysia to ask why Bidaah was such a hit in Indonesia.
He said according to them, the scenes portrayed in the drama reflect real-life practices in the country.
"Kissing the feet and drinking the hand-washing water of a religious figure is considered normal there," he said on his YouTube channel.
Amin also pointed out that in Indonesia, some groups abuse religious titles and falsely claim the status of kiai (respected Islamic cleric).
"In some cases, even the children of the kiai, known as Gus, exploit the title to justify actions that go against religious teachings.
"Smoking on stage, dancing during the selawat and zikir in graveyards at night are considered normal by some groups in the country," he said.
He said there are also forms of zikir being recited that have never been heard of and are not mentioned in the Quran or the hadith.
"Some of their religious figures have 10 to 15 wives and nikah mut’ah (temporary marriage) has become normal there," he said.
When asked why such practices occur, he said his Indonesian friends believe it is because people often follow those in robes and turbans without questioning their authority.
"My friend even warned that if teachings are brought into Malaysia that glorify religious figures more than Allah SWT and the Prophet Muhammad SAW, that is a clear sign of deviant teachings," he said.
Amin also emphasised the role of every Muslim in protecting the faith from extremists, the misguided and misinterpretations by the ignorant.
"This is our responsibility, to ensure what happens in Bidaah does not happen in our country," he said.
While he acknowledged the show’s success, he also cautioned that it could harm the image of Islam and religious scholars alike.
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