Gus Dur and Islam scholars

Gus Dur and Islam scholars

From Merdeka

Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) has stated in Singapore that Megawati will not become president because Islamic scholars in his circle do not agree to it and the majority of Indonesian is Muslim. The statement seems to disparage the scholars and the people because Gus Dur is of the opinion that the people do not understand Islam teachings on "power holders among you or leaders among you".

All people know God is just. So, if a leader of the nation can only be a man, it means that one is not convinced of God's just attitude. If Gus Dur wants to make a statement that involves Muslim people, he should be careful, especially if there is no solid basis based on God's saying.

This needs to be emphasized in order that people do not arbitrarily make statements based only on feelings or hearsay without doing thorough research and using rationality.

It is not possible that God teaches man untrue and illogical things and that God is unjust. Pay attention to God's saying to leaders, the power holders among you: "Obey God and obey the Prophet and the power holders among you, too. If you disagree on something, return the matter to God and His Prophet if you really believe in God and the hereafter." (QS. 4:59)

The verse suggests that believers "obey God, His Prophet and the leader or the power holder among them." No mention is made of gender for the power holder. The verse shows that God is just and does not mention that only males are allowed to hold power among you. Thus, females are also allowed.

A. RIDWAN

Jakarta