The commemoration of the 73rd anniversary of the Muslimat (Muslim women) of Nahdlatul Ulama was used as an opportunity to promote a spirit of tolerance and moderate Islam. Tolerance and respect for differences can be built through dialogue.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Members of the Muslimat Nahdlatul Ulama and the Indonesian people in general are expected to continue to build tolerance and promote a moderate Islam by promoting dialogue. Diversity and differences are gifts and at the same time form the identity of the Indonesian people.
The message of a tolerant attitude and moderate Islam was expressed by President Joko Widodo, the chairman of the executive board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU), KH Said Aqil Siroj, and the chairwoman of the central board of Muslimat Nahdlatul Ulama, Khofifah Indar Parawansa, at the commemoration of the 73rd anniversary of Muslimat NU at the Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, on Sunday (27/01/2019).
Muslimat is one of NU’s autonomous bodies. About 100,000 Muslimat NU members attended the event. As reported by the chairman of the event committee, Yenny Wahid, Muslimat NU members who were present came from a number of regions in Indonesia, both from Java and outside Java. The event was also attended by First Lady Iriana, several working Cabinet ministers, NU figures such as Sinta Nuriyah Abdurrahman Wahid, and Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan.
In his speech, the President talked about the nature of Indonesia as a large and diverse country. "We are blessed by God with diversity. It has become God\'s law that our nation is different," said the President.
Therefore, the President invited Muslimat NU members and all Indonesian people to nurture a tolerant attitude and mutual respect and acknowledge diversity and differences.
"Moderate Islam. Not the radical one. Not the extreme. But being able to appreciate and respect our other brothers and sisters; who have different religions, different ethnicities, different customs, different traditions, different regional languages," said the President.
The President also appealed to all citizens to avoid mutual blasphemy, mutual insults, mutual ridicule and spreading hoaxes to each other.
"Together we maintain and care for unity and brotherhood. [We] also maintain harmony. We guard ukhuwah Islamiah (Muslim brotherhood) and ukhuwah wathaniyah (national brotherhood). Do not allow, simply because of differences, to make it seem that are not brothers and sisters," said the President.
Moderate Islam envoys
On the same occasion, Said Aqil invited Muslimat NU members to become moderate and tolerant Islamic envoys, both in their families and communities.
"Let\'s take care of NKRI (the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia), Pancasila, cultures, characters, noble character. This is the Nusantara Islam (Islam of the Archipelago); an Islam that is courteous, Islam that is friendly, Islam that respects cultures, Islam that has character and integrity. That is the Islam Nusantara. Not a sect, not a school, but a typology of the Islam Nusantara community," he said.
Meanwhile, Khofifah said that Muslimat NU would promote tolerant and moderate attitudes. According to Khofifah, the NU had thus far taught about moderation amid differences. The moderate nature is always instilled and socialized in various Muslimat NU activities.
"In order to harmonize diversity and tolerance in Indonesia, moderation is key," Khofifah said. According to Khofifah, all groups or individuals must get space to express and articulate opinions. However, all of them must also be able to mutually respect differences in opinion.
"Let\'s have a dialogue by building tolerance," Khofifah said.
On that occasion, the participants present at the event also made an antihoax declaration that encouraged all to reject hoaxes, slander and gossip that could trigger national disunity. It also discouraged the dissemination of false information and encouraged the cultivation of habits that filter information, while thinking positively to strengthen unity. (LAS/E21)