Megawati brings with her a whole host of problems

One of the most interesting questions regarding Megawati Soekarnoputri's elevation to the presidency is her relations with the Muslim community. The following are the views of M. Ihsan Tandjung, a Muslim da'i (preacher) who resigned from the Justice Party in 1999 when it backed Abdurrahman Wahid's presidency, and the party's president Hidayat Nurwahid.

Question: Some Muslim legislators chanted Allahuakbar (God is great) and Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah) when Megawati was elected president on Monday. They're probably the same people who were against Megawati's presidential candidacy in 1999, and who chanted Allahuakbar when Abdurrahman Wahid, or Gus Dur, was elected. Your comment?

Answer: Personally, I believe this is the time to say both Alhamdulillah and Innalillahi wa innailaihi rajiun ("Everything comes from Allah and goes back to Allah," an expression that Muslims utter to mourn a loss), the same thing that I said when Gus Dur was elected in 1999.

Alhamdulillah because Gus Dur has now been removed, but Innalillah for the election of Megawati. Really, Indonesian Muslims should not think that extraordinary improvements are coming our way because Gus Dur is no longer in the picture, and Megawati is now in.

We should be grateful to Allah for the removal of the incompetent president, Gus Dur, but who's to say we should be grateful for his replacement?

Q: Why do you think Mega's election is not something to be grateful for?

A: Because she brings with her a whole host of problems, the first of which is her gender. This is not to embark on a discussion on gender (in Islam) but something that is based upon syariah (Islamic law). The Prophet Muhammad said that no nation, no community would be safe if it was led by a woman. If we are Muslim, that should be our standpoint. That is the saying of the Prophet, not the saying of Gus Dur.

Even if gender were not a problem, she has another problem, namely her questionable leadership capabilities. When she was a member of the House of Representatives, she never said anything that was significant for the people in general. She was incapable as a DPR member. What will she be like now that she's facing even greater responsibilities?

Q: Surely there's been a learning process on her part over these years?

A: What contribution did she make to the community in general when she was the vice president? The only positive thing about her position in (Wahid's) regime was the fact that she was silent whereas Gus Dur talked and lied too much.

Megawati's third problem is her identity. This is a person who was willing to be photographed performing the rituals of a religion other than Islam. In the eyes of ulema, this was not a mere problem of ahlak (conduct), but rather a question of aqidah (faith, belief). A fundamental problem.

Q: But Megawati has gone on the haj, by which she is saying that she is a Muslim...

A: When a (Muslim) is involved in the (rites and) identity of another faith, he has become murtad, an apostate. There's no other way for him but to repent, publicly admit the mistake and to return to Islam.

This means that Megawati, too, should repent and declare publicly that she has made a mistake (in taking part in the ritual of another religion), and that she has returned to Islam.

Now, this is a sensitive matter, but also a fundamental one, a question of truth that has to be recognized by the general public.

Q: Are there any other problems?

A: Her fourth problem is her lack of contribution to the Muslim cause. The Muslim community should, in fact, anticipate even greater difficulties ahead now that we know that Megawati's think tank includes people like (retired army general) Theo Syafei.

Theo could be likened to (former military commander) Benny Moerdani in his hatred of Muslims. We know that Theo has made speeches (against Muslims) in churches. To date, there's never been any explanation as to why he made those speeches.

We know how close Theo is to Megawati, so Muslims should really beware. Muslims should not have high hopes about Megawati.

Q: That's rather extreme, isn't it, saying she has made no contribution?

A: We can judge contribution from its degree. The highest contribution (toward the Muslim cause) would be to advocate the introduction of Islamic law. She could have at least shown she was concerned about the sufferings of many Muslims across the country. Look at (the religious clashes) in Maluku, which was supposed to be her responsibility as Gus Dur's deputy. Has she done anything to resolve the conflict there?

Now this doesn't mean I want her replaced, because who could replace her now?

There is, however, the question of whether Megawati can win tolerance for Muslims, namely whether she can guarantee freedom of speech in this country. Reform has caused freedom to run wild in this country, Gus Dur might have not cared about this because he too was "wild".

But Megawati is such a silent person. I would be concerned if she wanted other people to be silent like her. If she tried to silence people, then Muslims must all say, "Enough, we're fed up already."

As a da'i I believe that as long as there's freedom of speech, da'wa (the call to religion) movement can flourish.

Q: Some Muslim politicians who had supported Wahid in 1999, declared bara' (a vow of disassociation) against him earlier this year. Your comment?

A: Those (Muslim politicians) might have lacked an integrated concept of the relation between da'wa and politics. We understand Islam as comprehensive, perfect, and something that perfects others, or syamil, kamil and muttakamil. Islam is perfect and there's no imperfect element contained in the teaching. In fact, all the elements within it perfect one another. No statement (in Islam) could be understood in a way that contradicts another one. When contradictions arise, it could be because of problematic interpretation or problematic interpreters.

These wishy-washy politicians are the ones with problems. Even laymen can see how wishy-washy they are. This can only be because they fail to stick to one benchmark, namely the da'wa. When people came, were beckoned, to Islam, that's the success of the da'wa. Any action that does not lead to people becoming closer to religion means a failure on the part of the da'wa.

Because these politicians are so wishy-washy, people could stray farther from Islam.

A person who is committed to Islam will be consistent, will not say one thing one minute and say another the next minute. Some people excuse this behavior because "this is politics", but if a party has declared itself to be a party of da'wa, then its politicians should stick to this benchmark: Whether or not their political activities will lead to the success of da'wa.

It's not important that they win the debates over this or that chapter in this or that bill, but how they can persuade the other legislators to support Islamic teaching, the Islamic cause.

Q: Some Muslims politicians say they made an about face regarding Megawati's presidency because this is an emergency for Indonesia...

A: An emergency is when a Muslim is lost or trapped in a jungle and can find nothing to eat but the meat of a pig. When there are other options, it's not an emergency. Entering the legislature is one of many options. They should have anticipated such a situation. But if they're committed to da'wa, they should be steadfast even if they have to lose their seats in the legislature.

Da'wa activists should interact, blend with other people while retaining a quality known as excellence in aqidah, conduct and their ibadah (worship). They can work anywhere, from anywhere, but this excellence should be retained.

By being wishy-washy, they could blend in well with other people, other communities, but they have lost their excellence.

Now, I hope that the Islamic parties will refuse to join the cabinet. It would be terrible if they acquiesced and joined Megawati's cabinet. (Santi W.E. Soekanto)