Moslem scholars say no to Islamic state

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)