Moderate Islam Prevents Conflict

KOMPAS/ALIF ICHWAN

Egypt’s Al Azhar Grand Imam Ahmad Muhammad Ath-Thayeb (left) speaks with Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Said Aqil Siraq (right) on Wednesday (2/5) at NU’s Jakarta headquarters. The pair discussed Indonesian Islam (Islam Nusantara) as a way to strengthen Islam and to eradicate radical Islam in Indonesia. Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin also attended the meeting.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Egyptian Al-Azhar Grand Imam  Sheikh Ahmad Muhammad Ath-Thayeb advised Muslims in Indonesia and the world to jointly develop moderate religious views. With the idea of promoting moderate views, all groups can respect each other so as to avoid division, conflict and even war.

"We have to look for similarities among different views. Let us become a moderate society and accept differences," said Ath-Thayeb in a dialogue at the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU) office in Jakarta, Wednesday (2/5/2018) evening. The discussion was guided directly by PBMU Chairman  KH Said Aqil Siroj.

A number of figures accompanying Ath-Thayeb included, among others, Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi and Indonesian Ambassador to Egypt Helmy Fauzy. From the ranks of PBNU, there was also PBNU Secretary-General Helmy Faishal Zaini together with the board caretakers.

Previously, the Al-Azhar Grand Imam was a keynote speaker at the High Level Consultation of Muslim Ulemas and Scholars on the Islamic Wasatiyyat in Bogor. He also met with President Joko Widodo at the State Palace and was invited to dinner by Vice President Jusuf Kalla at his official residence.

Ath-Thayeb highlighted the phenomenon of social media, which had facilitated the spread of hate and aided in efforts to divide people, triggering conflict.

"There are many groups in Islam. Do not fight each other, label others as infidel with one [group] claiming to be right and you are wrong so your blood is halal. What makes Muslims kill each other is a lacking of understanding of Islam," he said.

Al-Azhar as an educational institution also opposes the monopoly of truth. All schools of Islam are well-accepted by Al-Azhar. The fanatical stance of a number of followers of the schools, said Ath-Thayeb, shows a picture of the layman\'s attitude toward religion.

Do not politicize religion

Answering a number of questions during the dialogue, he reminded people not to politicize religion and "make politics a religion" because it would damage both of them, religion and politics. Religion and politics have different characteristics. Religion should be a moral source to guide politicians to fight for the greater good. "Islam should be a mercy to the universe, not only for Muslims," he said.

To counteract the conflict, said Ath-Thayeb, we needed to develop moderation (wasathy), namely the central view, without trying to feel the most right, and appreciate the various differences, let alone the trivialities (furuiyyah), and uphold togetherness and unity . He appreciated the study of moderate Islam in Indonesia.

In the discussion which took place in a relaxed way and was interspersed with jokes, Said Aqil introduced the concept of Islam Nusantara which brings the face of a peaceful and tolerant Islam in Indonesia.

"Islam Nusantara has three characteristics, tawassuth (in the middle), tawazun (balanced), and tasamuh (tolerance). Islam Nusantara develops not only ukhuwah Islamiyah (Islamic brotherhood), but also ukhuwah wathoniyah (national brotherhood), and ukhuwah insaniyah (brotherhood of humanity)," said Said Aqil.

Nationalism becomes an important element for NU, as NU\'s founder KH Hasyim Asyari ordered. Hashim taught the spirit of love of the country. Hasyim\'s teachings provided strengthening for NU to build Islamic spirit in the corridor of the nation and defend the country.

After the dialogue, Lukman Hakim appreciated the arrival and the idea of the influential Al-Azhar Grand Imam in the Islamic world. "Presenting a moderate face of Islam in community life is a sustained effort to spread peace, bring about harmony, while upholding justice, in the midst of the Indonesian nation and the pluralistic world community. "The synergy between Al-Azhar and NU, Muhammadiyah, and other Islamic organizations needs to develop," he said.

Previously, in a public lecture at the Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta in Sukoharjo, Central Java, Ath-Thayeb said, every human being was created differently with a different set of beliefs. Therefore, one’s belief system should not be forced on another.

(IAM/REK/ RWN)