The passing away of KH Hasyim Muzadi, former general chairman of the Board of Executives of Nahdlatul Ulama, is a great loss for the nation.
The nation’s guru of diversity left all of us Thursday, March 16, 2017, in Malang, East Java, and was buried at the complex of Pondok Pesantren Al-Hikam, Depok, West Java. Since the news about the departure of KH Hasyim broke in the morning, social media has been boisterous with many netizens, including political leaders, expressing their condolence, sorrow and sadness over the departure of KH Hasyim.
The burial of the member of the Presidential Advisory Council (January 19, 2015 - March 16, 2017) was carried out with military honors. President Joko Widodo called KH Hasyim Muzadi one of the best sons of the nation and at the same time a guru of diversity. Malang Bishop Mgr. Henricus Pidyarto Gunawan O Carm expressed a sense of loss over KH Hasyim’s death, saying that he was a figure who continued to encourage tolerance and inter-religious harmony.
The nation has lost a figure whose commitment to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI), which is plural, was never doubted. In his work, as quoted by Social Service Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa, KH Hasyim fought for Islam to be rahmatan lil alamin, an Islam which sows peace, coolness, and love, not the one which uses violence (Kompas, 17/3).
One by one the great figures of the nation are leaving us. Scholar Murcholish Madjid, who passed away in 2005, then Indonesia\'s fourth president and former general chairman of the board of executives of Nahdlatul Ulama KH Abdurrahman Wahid, who passed away on December 30, 2009, and now KH Hasyim. The nation seems as if it feels an emptiness with the passing away of moderate figures who have thus far served as a moral anchor of the nation.
KH Hasyim\'s social circle is broad and is not limited in his socio-cultural environment. KH Hasyim is known to be close to interfaith leaders because he appreciated Islam as a blessing to the universe, rahmatan lil alamin. His lectures, which were soothing even though the massage was loud, helped the nation stay cool.
KH Hasyim was a vice presidential candidate accompanying presidential candidate Megawati Soekarnoputri in the 2004 Presidential Elections. The message of KH Hasyim to keep maintaining brotherhood among human beings showed his commitment to tolerance and NKRI. The message must be continuously sowed and brought to Indonesia, which is facing deep rifts in social relationships. This nation needs a moral anchor and adhesive for new solidarity after the departure of KH Hasyim.
Have a good journey KH Hasyim Muzadi.
