On mass prayer<\/p>\n
From Rakyat Merdeka<\/p>\n
Allow me to comment on Mr. Said Agil's recent statement about
\nNahdlatul Ulama (NU)'s istighosah (mass prayer) scheduled for
\nApril 29, in Jakarta as follows:
\n1. Istighosah is the prayer of prophets conducted when something
\nis at stake. For example, the Prophet's prayer when he was ready
\nto go to war in Perang Badar (Badar War). But the Prophet did not
\nask his troops to collectively say amen.
\n2. The venue for the prayer. What those Muslim clerics said
\nrecently about the place for conducting istighosah was right in
\nthat Muslims should pray in mosques or schools. Except for asking
\nfor rain and for holy day sholat (ritual prayers and actions
\nperformed five times a day), nothing concerning praying in an
\nopen field is written in the hadith (the chief source of guidance
\nfor understanding religious matters). I doubt that Said Agil is
\naware of this kind of thing.
\n3. Why should prays be held in a large field, participated in by
\ntens of thousands of Muslims of a particular group, particularly
\nwhen many assume it to be a form of political intimidation
\nagainst their opponents? The best thing the NU could do at the
\nmoment is, I think, help President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid
\nwith his projects of road repairs, accommodating child refugees
\nof the Sampit tragedy in pesantren (Islamic boarding schools),
\nand so forth. Helping Gus Dur by mass intimidation clearly will
\nonly harm his reputation.<\/p>\n
I should like to take this opportunity to appeal to all who
\ncall themselves kyai (Muslim elders) or ulema to comprehend fully
\nthat they are heirs of the prophets.<\/p>\n
A ZIDAN NOVANTO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/on-mass-prayer-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }