Jakarta (ANTARA) - The attack on Iran by the United States\u2013Israel\nalliance marked a historic turning point, prompting deep reflection on\nthe essence of national defence. The death of Iran\u2019s Supreme Leader Ali\nKhamenei was not merely a clash of advanced military hardware, but a\ntest of ideology, the role of the ulama, and national defence that has\nbeen entrenched for decades in a single state.<\/p>\n
The doctrine of Wilayat al-Faqih has been a foundation of Iran\u2019s\ntheocracy since the 1979 Revolution. Ideologically, the concept provides\nabsolute religious legitimacy to the Supreme Leader as the\nrepresentative of the Imam of the age, unifying spiritual and political\nauthority. The ulama are the Rahbar, the Supreme Leader; the highest\npolitical, moral, and spiritual legitimacy. The Rahbar is a devout,\nlearned, and capable man. Therefore he is honoured and obeyed by all the\npeople.<\/p>\n
Tracing Indonesia\u2019s long history of struggle, we will find a very\nrelevant precedent for understanding the dynamics between ideology, the\nulama, and national defence, as seen in Iran. Our past teaches that\neliminating the pinnacle leadership figure can fail to extinguish the\nflame of people\u2019s resistance. When the ulama and moral leaders are\namputated by colonial powers, the structure of struggle does not\ncollapse, but transforms into a collective energy that is harder for\nadversaries to contain.<\/p>\n
We begin with the memory of the Java War fought fiercely between 1825\nand 1830. Prince Diponegoro led a major resistance that shook the\nstability of the Dutch East India Company\u2019s government across Java. The\nwar erupted on 20 July 1825 and lasted to 1830. The Prince was captured\nthrough deception in a negotiation at Magelang on 28 March 1830.\nDiponegoro was exiled to Manado and then to Makassar, where he died on 8\nJanuary 1855. By conventional military calculations, the war is regarded\nas ending with the capture of its leader.<\/p>\n
However, morally and sociologically, Diponegoro\u2019s resistance\ngenerated an enduring collective memory of resistance to injustice and\ncolonialism. The Warok resistance in Ponorogo and several local\nuprisings thereafter successfully troubled the Dutch.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/iran-us-israel-war-ulama-ideology-and-national-defence-1772694317", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }