Muslims' degradation due to power abuse

Muslims' degradation due to power abuse

From Media Indonesia

It is hard to believe that certain Muslim leaders have been politicizing things in such a way that they are endangering Muslims internally. Imagine that the recent plenary session of the House of Representatives (DPR), which resulted in the issuance of a House memorandum, has been opposed by supporters of President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, particularly in East Java province, with all kinds of justification.

The ulemas (Muslim religious teachers or leaders) who still have a conscience were surprised at the recent brutality of santris (strict adherents of Islam) in East Java. Some of them believed that the santris had been plunged into anarchy. Even Ulil Absar Abdalla, a noted leader of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), admitted that intelligent people had made fools of those santris.

I do not think their conflicts in any way reflect the ideals of Muslims playing their role in the state as well as the nation. They have been despising democracy as well as the good principles of Islam by associating with other people of different opinions and beliefs.

I am writing to appeal to all Muslim leaders not to involve Muslims in their politics, and in particular conflicts of interest. Those in power should never defend themselves by turning the people against Muslims. This is very dangerous!

If the conflicts continue to occur, whether or not Gus Dur steps down, Muslims will be deeply hurt and will suffer. Those leaders of Islam should not worsen the existing horizontal conflicts on the basis of religious sentiment, which has proven to be very cruel and sharp.

Do we, Muslims, wish to see ourselves as the laughing stock of the world?

INDAWAN

Jakarta