The Jakarta Post, 10/9/2002 10:09:33 PM
Muhammadiyah-NU called upon to formulate alternative
programs
JAKARTA (JP): Rector of the State Islamic University Prof Dr. Azumardi Azra urged
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyyah, the two largest and most moderate
Islamic organizations in Indonesia, to formulate alternative ideas and programs to
anticipate the rapid growth of social and religious developments.
"It is now high time for NU, Muhammadiyah and other such mainstream Islamic
organizations in this country to be proactive in anticipating such social
developments," Azyumardi said at a seminar themed "Arabs and Islam in Indonesia
Today" here on Wednesday.
"Unless those mainstream Islamic organizations play an active role in laying down
proper foundation for Islamic developments, genuine Islamic characteristics in this
country might be misperceived in a similar way as those set out by some small, but
radical Islamic movements," Azyumardi hinted.
Organized by the Muhamamdiyah Legislature and Religious Propagation Council, the
seminar was held to discuss the phenomenon of mushrooming Islamic movements
that are led by people of Arab descent.
According to Azyumardi, organizations such as Lasykar Jihad, the Islamic Defenders
Front (FPI), the Indonesian Mujahiddin Council (MMI) and the Indonesian Ikhwanul
Muslimin are noted for their literal religious interpretation and their radical movements.
Lasykar Jihad, led by Ja'far Umar Thalib, is known for its "jihad" (holy war) in Ambon;
FPI, led by Habib Rizieq Shihab, is known for its fight against what it considers to be
vice at nightclubs and entertainment centers; while MMI, led by Abu Bakar Ba'asyir,
has been associated with the al-Qaeda terrorist network.
Azyumardi, a former journalist, categorized the three as the "radical salafi", judging by
their discourses and the way they translated religious tenets into daily practices.
The Radical Salafi Islamic groups tend to emphasize their action program into
developing what they claimed as an authentic Islam propagated by Prophet
Muhammad, he said, adding that such an approach meant that in trying to achieve
their objectives they tended to apply a radical modus operandi.
Comparatively speaking, NU and Muhgammadiyah, Azyumardi pointed out, chose to
use persuasive and peaceful means in carrying out their da'wah (Islamic propagation)
objectives. Azyumardi, however, said that he was not surprised that people of Arab
descent had proved to be notable leaders in Indonesian Islamic movements thanks to
their historical and social backgrounds.
According to him, historically and socially speaking, some people of Arab descent
claimed that they had a divine obligation to help purify what they considered a
syncretic Islam in Indonesia.
Islam, as practiced by the Indonesian people, was regarded as having been eroded by
local cultural values and traditional beliefs, Azyumardi quoted some of Arab descent
as saying.
Such people, he said, had positioned themselves as guardians of the Islamic religion
in non-Arab areas like Indonesia.
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