Moslem scholars say no to Islamic state

JAKARTA (JP): Despite the newfound political freedom which has lead to a growth in the number of Islamic parties, Moslem scholars still came out against the establishment of an Islamic state during a discussion yesterday.

Jalaluddin Rahmat, a lecturer at the Alauddin State Institute for Islamic Studies in Bandung, acknowledged it was possible that millions of Indonesian Moslems hoped to see an Islamic state established and the sharia (Islamic law) institutionalized.

However, he pointed out, the concept of an "Islamic state" actually consisted contradictions. People choose to adhere to Islamic laws and values -- they could not be forced upon anyone.

An Islamic state, he reasoned, would "teach people to be munafiqin (hypocrites) whose obedience to the law of Islam was not out of willingness.

"I am frightened by the idea of an Islamic state. I cannot imagine a state being ruled by fuqaha (clerics or men of Islamic law) who claim to represent God. These kind of people would be difficult to criticize because they would see personal criticism as criticism of the Koran and hadith (Prophet Muhammad's tradition)," he told a discussion on religion held by the Syarif Hidayatullah Institute of Islamic Studies.

Jalaluddin said an Islamic state ruled by fuqaha would be characterized by intolerance and pointed out that many noted scholars including Abdurrahman Wahid and Nurcholish Madjid were of the same opinion. Abdurrahman heads Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia's largest Moslem organization.

He said even Amien Rais, the chairman of Muhammadiyah, had taken a similar stance.

Jalaluddin argued that it was more important for the Moslem community to fight for a just society in the same way as Prophet Muhammad did over 14 centuries ago.

The 80 wars Prophet Muhammad presided over in his lifetime were part of his quest to establish justice, and once this goal had been achieved "he bid adieu" and passed on, Jalaluddin said.

The discussion also featured political observers Muhammad A.S. Hikam, Masdar F. Mas'udi, Fachry Ali, Deliar Noer -- who is chairman of the Moslem Community Party -- and historian Taufik Abdullah.

In his paper, Hikam described two different approaches which Moslem leaders and scholars could employ in politics and state affairs. The first is used by those who wish to formalize the ties between religion and politics.

"They wish for a comprehensive system of teaching ... (which is) dominant in political concepts and practices," said Hikam, a researcher at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI).

These political practices have often appeared to be exclusive when employed here and have advocated radical strategies for cultural change, he explained.

The second approach is based on rahmatan lil alamien (the belief that Islam is a blessing for the whole world), and does not emphasize formal ties between religion and politics.

Proponents of this philosophy avoid "formal islamization" of the state and politics. They work toward al maslahah al amah (the benefit of all people regardless of their beliefs).

This second group also stress the importance of empowering the mustadh'afin or the weak and the poor.

"They don't reject the state, rather they want to see the people grow in strength and confidence so that they can counterbalance the enormous power which it wields," Hikam said.

Masdar pointed out in his paper that in the context of state affairs, "Islam means just". "So an 'Islamic state', should we choose to use this term, means a 'just state," he said.

He said Islam does not stipulate what kind of a state its followers should adhere to. "The form (of a state), system and mechanism to run it are for men to think about, from time to time, all in the quest for justice," he said.

Since becoming independent in 1945, Indonesia has never been entirely free from low-level insurgency by those seeking to establish an Islamic state. However repression of those who fought to establish one in Aceh resulted in massive human rights violations.

In his opening speech, Harun Nasution, a professor at the Syarif Hidayatullah Institute of Islamic Studies, pointed out that of late, all resources and attention were concentrated on the campaign to bring about economic, political and legal system improvement.

Issues concerning the campaign for better understanding of religions, ethics and morality, tended to be neglected, he said. (swe)