Al Arqam prospers by being apolitical<\/p>\n
By Riyadi<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The huge words \"Love Abuya, love whom (God)
\nloves\" is written across a clean and well-managed living room of
\nthe Java branch office of the Malaysia-based Al Arqam in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Abuya is short for Abuya As Syeikh Imam Asshari Muhammad At
\nTamimi, the founder of the Islamic organization that runs a
\nmulti-million dollar business empire.<\/p>\n
The group, with headquarters in Malaysia, is a religious
\ndenomination as well as a political movement, one reason why
\nAbuya has been banned from his own country.<\/p>\n
It is also for this reason that its existence in Indonesia has
\ncaused some apprehension.<\/p>\n
Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher has indicated that
\nthe government may move to bar Abuya from entering Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Abuya, living in exile in Thailand after being deported from
\nSingapore earlier this month, once indicated that he hopes to
\nrule Malaysia one day. However he has maintained a low profile
\nsince 1991, when his sect was banned by the Malaysian government.<\/p>\n
The Al Arqam branch in Indonesia has quietly prospered,
\nalthough it is banned in West Sumatra and Aceh.<\/p>\n
Its leaders have stated that the movement will not change its
\nactivities of strengthening the Islamic economy and fomenting
\nspiritual enlightenment among Moslems into a political movement.<\/p>\n
In an interview with The Jakarta Post, Ahmadi Rafei, chairman
\nof the group's Java I branch, said he does not see any reason why
\nAbuya should be barred from entering Indonesia given that he has
\nnever aggravated the Indonesian government.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that Al Arqam in Indonesia has avoided politics
\nin compliance with the local regulations, and has concentrated
\nits activities on strengthening the welfare of the Moslem
\ncommunity.<\/p>\n
In the struggle to uphold Islam, the economy serves as the
\nmain subsidiary strength after the three Islamic fundamental
\nteachings -- faith, brotherhood and uniformity, Ahmadi said.<\/p>\n
\"Because of our hard work, we are becoming bigger and bigger.
\nAnd if some suspect our activities as becoming too political,
\nthat is up to them. But I assure you that we will stick to our
\ncommitment of not entering politics,\" said Ahmadi, dressed in the
\nrobe and turban typically worn by Al Arqam's male followers.<\/p>\n
Al Arqam, founded in Malaysia in 1968 by Abuya, has become a
\nformidable organization with 100,000 followers in Malaysia and
\nmillions of supporters around the world.<\/p>\n
The group has expanded its reach, through business ventures,
\nto 18 countries: Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei, the
\nPhilippines, India, Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Uzbekistan,
\nJapan, France, Germany, the United States, Australia, New Zealand
\nand Indonesia.<\/p>\n
In Indonesia, Al Arqam was established in 1988 as a
\nfoundation. And like other foundations here, it incorporates
\nPancasila as its basic principle.<\/p>\n
\"We live here under Indonesia's jurisdiction, and more
\nimportantly, we are Indonesians. So, we follow the Indonesian
\nrules of the game,\" Ahmadi said.<\/p>\n
He describes his relationship with the government as one
\nbetween a children and parents, while his relationship with the
\ncentral Al Arqam in Malaysia is one between students and
\nteachers.<\/p>\n
The group now boasts tens of thousands of followers in Java
\nand Sumatra.<\/p>\n
Referring to the charges that Abuya's followers have turned
\nthe bearded, 57-year old preacher into a personality cult, Ahmadi
\ndismissed the accusation, saying Al Arqam followers just love
\nAbuya as their sect's leader, not as a cult leader.<\/p>\n
Noted Moslem scholar Ali Yafie of the Indonesian Ulemas
\nCouncil (MUI) has also accused Al Arqam of teaching followers to
\nindulge in tawasul, the practice of communicating with Allah
\nthrough leaders. Ali said this is a deviation from Islam.<\/p>\n
The tawasul teaching was taken from a book entitled Aurood
\nMuhammadiyah (Muhammad's prays) written by Imam Huseimy, a
\nspiritual scholar from East Java. According to Hasbullah Mursyid
\nfrom the ministry of religious affairs, most prayers in the book
\nare not worded according to the Prophet Muhammad's writings.<\/p>\n
Responding to the accusations, Ahmadi said he welcomes
\ndifferences of opinion, but warned all parties not to claim to be
\nthe most correct.<\/p>\n
\"About religion, don't claim that you are the most correct. We
\nare just human beings. We are humble. It's not easy to claim to
\nbe the most correct in religion,\" Ahmadi said.<\/p>\n
He suggested that Moslems around the world have long been
\ndivided by those who do not like the growth of Islam.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Moslems should not allow other people to divide
\nthem into rivalry groups.<\/p>\n
\"We have long been divided into groups. Don't let other people
\ndivide us again. I'm happy that Indonesian Moslems are becoming
\nmore mature. We see that Nahdlatul Ulama, Muhammadiyah and Persis
\nno longer criticize one another,\" he said, referring to three
\nmost influential Islamic organizations here.<\/p>\n
When asked what he will do if the group is banned here, Ahmadi
\nsaid he believes the government is wise enough in dealing with
\nsuch problems.<\/p>\n
\"The government knows exactly what we're doing here, whether
\nwe undermine national stability or not ... And if it happens (the
\nbanning), I will let Allah Himself judge us since the truth comes
\nfrom Allah.\"<\/p>\n
Al Arqam has also been accused by its critics of encouraging
\nthe practice of polygamy without the legitimate reasons the
\nProphet Muhammad advocated.<\/p>\n
Ahmadi countered this by saying that those who oppose polygamy
\nare not abiding by the Koran since the holy book recognizes the
\npractice.<\/p>\n
\"Only those who have a deep understanding of their religion
\nwill accept polygamy as one of God's rules. But as we already
\nknow, polygamy is not for everybody. It's only for those who are
\nable to do so,\" Ahmadi argued.<\/p>\n
He noted that Moslems now tend to erase polygamy from their
\nagenda as they see it as one of Islam's weaknesses. He contended
\nthat Islam is perfect and that's why polygamy should be seen from
\nits positive side.<\/p>\n
\"There is a beauty behind the teachings of polygamy,\" Ahmadi
\nsaid, gazing out of a room filled with posters and books
\nillustrated with images of Abuya.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/al-arqam-prospers-by-being-apolitical-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}