Essence of Islam

Essence of Islam

From Bisnis Indonesia

Although I am a non-Muslim, since last year's Ramadhan I have enthusiastically watched an Islamic spiritual program presented by Prof Dr. Alwi Shihab on ANteve (unfortunately he is not accompanied by Dr. Komarudin this year).

The program discusses the essence of Islam universally. In my opinion the discussion touches the depths of the heart and the basic nature of human beings as faithful people who must live with their fellow countrymen on a national basis and with other nations in the global context.

The views expressed by Mr. Alwi Shihab are far from hypocrisy. His views are transparent, and if they are correctly understood by all, be they Muslims, Christians, Hindus or Buddhists, there will surely be a harmonious brotherhood among us, the big family of Indonesia.

It is still fresh in my mind that in the 1960s and 1970s, people professing different religions would, in a spirit of brotherhood, pay a visit to one another on religious holy days, regardless of ethnicity, race and social status. Unfortunately, this is now practiced much less frequently.

In my opinion the reason is that our spirit of unity has been dampened. This, I believe, has been intentionally designed in order to split our unity.

As a result our nation will be vulnerable to efforts to pit one against the other and incitement on various grounds related to ethnicity, race, religion and societal groups. Some quarters have even resorted to politicizing religion and separating individuals on the basis of various religious taboos.

So, the only way to get out of this adverse situation is to resort to thinking with reason and a broad concept as shown in the lectures by Mr. Alwi Shihab.

Muslim clerics and religious figures of all faiths must have a positive attitude toward unity and brotherhood.

The present condition is quite alarming as some quarters obviously are trying to sow the seeds of disunity.

If only all religious figures and community leaders were as broad-minded as Alwi Shihab, Gus Dur, Said Agil Sirarj, Matori Abdul Djalil, Megawati and other figures (please do not link this with political matters) -- all of the figures whose principles cannot be bought by money and power -- then there would no longer be any disintegration, rioting and social conflicts.

Again, kudos to ANteve, which has consistently aired this program.

SUSANTO WANGSADIJAYA

Semarang, Central Java