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