Reinforcing Our Relationship With Fellow Humans

· 3 minutes read

BENGKULU, KOMPAS — The strengthening of Islam as a system of values through daily religious practices is the biggest challenge of society. Without the strengthening of substantive Islamic values, including those related to human relations, a tolerant, peaceful life with the willingness to cooperate, be honest and respect differences will be difficult to achieve.

The absence of strong implementation of this substantive value of Islam, according to Vice President Jusuf Kalla, is reflected in, among others, a study by S Rehman and H Askari, Muslim academics from Georgetown University, United States, titled "How Islamic are Islamic Countries?" (2010). In the study, Indonesia was ranked 140th out of 208 countries studied. The study assessed the extent to which Islamic values were applied and used as guidance for the citizens.

"The results of the study show that those in the highest position are countries like New Zealand, Sweden, Norway, followed by Japan. Indonesia is far behind. A Muslim-majority country that is closer to the top is Malaysia in 33rd position, while Saudi Arabia is ranked 44, even though the country [Saudi Arabia] enforces strict Islamic law," Kalla said in his remarks at the closing of the Tanwir Muhammadiyah meeting in Bengkulu on Sunday, Feb. 17.

Kalla said religious enlightenment efforts must also be made to encourage the strengthening of Islamic values in daily life. Reflecting on the study of the two academics, religious passion in Indonesia, said Kalla, was limited to religious practices and creeds, and that the substantive values of Islam were not strengthened in everyday life.

Accompanied by “muamalah”

The rising spirit of worship, according to Kalla, was something good. However, the strengthening of awareness of worship and creeds must also be followed by muamalah, or religious practices that bring benefits and kindness to others. Not only habblumminallah (relationship with God), but also habblumminannas (relations with fellow humans).

"Our mosques are always full. There used to be two saf (lines), now there are six saf. That didn\'t happen 10 years ago. However, what is weaker is our human relations or muamalah. Therefore, our efforts should be to enlighten not only in the context of creeds and worship, but also in human relations," Kalla said.

Enlightenment minutes

In the closing of the tanwir (enlightenment) meeting, eight recommendations for religious followers were read out with the core message of "Enlightening Religion". The tanwir meeting, which was held from Feb. 15 to 17, also produced nine points on Muhammadiyah\'s strategic thinking for the nation.

Chairman of the Muhammadiyah central executive board Haedar Nashir said the tanwir meeting wanted to promote religious behavior. "If there is still corruption, there is still hostility, discrimination toward each other, it means we still have to improve the way we practice religion to be more careful," he said.

Muhammadiyah, among others, advised the government, in the future, to enshrine religion and Pancasila as actual values of the life of the nation, including among public officials.

Muhammadiyah also called on the government to safeguard the country\'s sovereignty, both from foreign penetration and domestic power, which compromises the government’s ability to take care of the state. Muhammadiyah also called on the government to break the chain of social inequality by taking progressive and bold policies.

Muhammadiyah secretary-general Abdul Mu\'ti said that aside from issues pertaining to religious followers and nationalism, the tanwir meeting decided to change Muhammadiyah’s budget. The tanwir meeting also appointed a central leadership election committee, which will work at the Muhammadiyah Congress, from July 1 to 5, 2020, in Solo, Central Java. (REK)

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Muhammadiyah habblumminallah habblumminannas