Jakarta, Indonesia - Following the controversy over the al-Qiyadah al-Islamiyah sect, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) announced Tuesday 10 criteria that indicated an Islamic sect was "misguided".
During the MUI's national working meeting, the council said that among the criteria for "misguided" sects were defying one of the Islamic six pillars of faith and believing in or following teachings that are not in line with the Koran and Sunnah as the source of Islamic teachings.
Other criteria included believe in God's revelation after the Koran, denying the authenticity of the Koran, and contradicting prevailing interpretations.
Denying Muhammad's position as the last prophet, as well as insulting him were also regarded as signs, as well as ignoring the Hadiths, the Prophet's sayings and deeds, as the source of Islamic teachings.
The MUI also said sects change, add to or reduce basic aspects of worship already determined by sharia, such as praying five times a day or making the pilgrimage to Mecca.
They also regard other Muslims as infidels without textual arguments.
MUI secretary Ichwan Syam said that the MUI still needed more time to conduct a more comprehensive study before issuing a fatwa on the mattes.
Vice President Jusuf Kalla called on ulema and Islamic figures nationwide to improve their ways of performing dakwah (spreading the word of Islam) so as to avoid the expansion of misleading faiths.
He said that ulema should understand the core of dakwah and not be offensive in their responses.
"Let us look at ourselves to see if there is something wrong in our dakwah," Kalla said.
"Let us discuss the matter and rectify it."
Kalla said ulema should not turn away from the fact that sects were growing, and were particularly popular among university students.
"We cannot handle this problem with violence," he said.
Religious Affairs Minister Maftuh Basyuni said the government would continue to help the people who had been influenced by the sects to get back to the right path.
Maftuh agreed with Kalla's statement, saying that anarchic actions would not solve the problem, but worsen the situation instead.
He said the ministry would not monitor proselytizing in universities.