Apology from the 'kiai'

Apology from the 'kiai'

From Republika

It is said in our history that Sukarno was meritorious in the
founding of the state of Indonesia. He began to be involved in a
struggle for independence in his tender years as a university
student, and this struggle led him to being elected the first
president of the Republic. All Indonesian people and even the
world acknowledge his struggle and his great merit for the
unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia. Unfortunately, in his
ripe old age, he was in misery. The New Order rulers ostracized
him, even from his own children.

Now, Soeharto, the most powerful person during the New Order
era, has a similar fate to Sukarno. One of his children is now on
the police's list of wanted people.

This is politics. And this is Indonesia. The circumstances can
change within days, or within minutes. A well-known figure and
kiai (a venerated scholar/teacher of Islam), also within a matter
of a few days, apologized to Bung Akbar and Mas Amien for his
fault, (Republika of Jan. 25 and Feb. 1). My neighbors in the
village began to harbor great hatred for these two latter-
mentioned figures after hearing the sermon of the kiai.
Unfortunately, not everybody in the Muslim community reads a
newspaper and, consequently, not everybody has learned that the
kiai has admitted his fault and tendered his apology.

A hadith (stories related to the words or deeds of Prophet
Muhammad) says that an ulema has five traits of character, four
of which are: eliminating vanity, fostering modesty, eliminating
hostility and fostering peace.

It is really a good idea for politicians and kiai to ask for
God's forgiveness.

HARUN RIYADI

Tangerang, Banten