Moslem scholars say no to Islamic state<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Despite the newfound political freedom which has
\nlead to a growth in the number of Islamic parties, Moslem
\nscholars still came out against the establishment of an Islamic
\nstate during a discussion yesterday.<\/p>\n
Jalaluddin Rahmat, a lecturer at the Alauddin State Institute
\nfor Islamic Studies in Bandung, acknowledged it was possible that
\nmillions of Indonesian Moslems hoped to see an Islamic state
\nestablished and the sharia (Islamic law) institutionalized.<\/p>\n
However, he pointed out, the concept of an \"Islamic state\"
\nactually consisted contradictions. People choose to adhere to
\nIslamic laws and values -- they could not be forced upon anyone.<\/p>\n
An Islamic state, he reasoned, would \"teach people to be
\nmunafiqin (hypocrites) whose obedience to the law of Islam was
\nnot out of willingness.<\/p>\n
\"I am frightened by the idea of an Islamic state. I cannot
\nimagine a state being ruled by fuqaha (clerics or men of Islamic
\nlaw) who claim to represent God. These kind of people would be
\ndifficult to criticize because they would see personal criticism
\nas criticism of the Koran and hadith (Prophet Muhammad's
\ntradition),\" he told a discussion on religion held by the Syarif
\nHidayatullah Institute of Islamic Studies.<\/p>\n
Jalaluddin said an Islamic state ruled by fuqaha would be
\ncharacterized by intolerance and pointed out that many noted
\nscholars including Abdurrahman Wahid and Nurcholish Madjid were
\nof the same opinion. Abdurrahman heads Nahdlatul Ulama,
\nIndonesia's largest Moslem organization.<\/p>\n
He said even Amien Rais, the chairman of Muhammadiyah, had
\ntaken a similar stance.<\/p>\n
Jalaluddin argued that it was more important for the Moslem
\ncommunity to fight for a just society in the same way as Prophet
\nMuhammad did over 14 centuries ago.<\/p>\n
The 80 wars Prophet Muhammad presided over in his lifetime
\nwere part of his quest to establish justice, and once this goal
\nhad been achieved \"he bid adieu\" and passed on, Jalaluddin said.<\/p>\n
The discussion also featured political observers Muhammad A.S.
\nHikam, Masdar F. Mas'udi, Fachry Ali, Deliar Noer -- who is
\nchairman of the Moslem Community Party -- and historian Taufik
\nAbdullah.<\/p>\n
In his paper, Hikam described two different approaches which
\nMoslem leaders and scholars could employ in politics and state
\naffairs. The first is used by those who wish to formalize the
\nties between religion and politics.<\/p>\n
\"They wish for a comprehensive system of teaching ... (which
\nis) dominant in political concepts and practices,\" said Hikam, a
\nresearcher at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI).<\/p>\n
These political practices have often appeared to be exclusive
\nwhen employed here and have advocated radical strategies for
\ncultural change, he explained.<\/p>\n
The second approach is based on rahmatan lil alamien (the
\nbelief that Islam is a blessing for the whole world), and does
\nnot emphasize formal ties between religion and politics.<\/p>\n
Proponents of this philosophy avoid \"formal islamization\" of
\nthe state and politics. They work toward al maslahah al amah (the
\nbenefit of all people regardless of their beliefs).<\/p>\n
This second group also stress the importance of empowering the
\nmustadh'afin or the weak and the poor.<\/p>\n
\"They don't reject the state, rather they want to see the
\npeople grow in strength and confidence so that they can
\ncounterbalance the enormous power which it wields,\" Hikam said.<\/p>\n
Masdar pointed out in his paper that in the context of state
\naffairs, \"Islam means just\". \"So an 'Islamic state', should we
\nchoose to use this term, means a 'just state,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said Islam does not stipulate what kind of a state its
\nfollowers should adhere to. \"The form (of a state), system and
\nmechanism to run it are for men to think about, from time to
\ntime, all in the quest for justice,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Since becoming independent in 1945, Indonesia has never been
\nentirely free from low-level insurgency by those seeking to
\nestablish an Islamic state. However repression of those who
\nfought to establish one in Aceh resulted in massive human rights
\nviolations.<\/p>\n
In his opening speech, Harun Nasution, a professor at the
\nSyarif Hidayatullah Institute of Islamic Studies, pointed out
\nthat of late, all resources and attention were concentrated on
\nthe campaign to bring about economic, political and legal system
\nimprovement.<\/p>\n
Issues concerning the campaign for better understanding of
\nreligions, ethics and morality, tended to be neglected, he said.
\n(swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/moslem-scholars-say-no-to-islamic-state-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}