Natsir's thoughts still relevant today, seminar told

JAKARTA (JP): Although Mohammad Natsir passed away in February of last year, the fruits of his thought are still alive and relevant for Indonesians today.

The scholar's views regarding Islam and nationalism were discussed in a seminar on Natsir's Thought and Struggle, held on Saturday and Sunday by the Youth Islamic Study Club Al Azhar.

Natsir's political career led him to become prime minister of Indonesia and also minister of information. He also chaired the Masyumi, a leading Islamic party of the 1950s. After retiring from public office, he devoted his life to his religion.

Twelve speakers presented their views, analysis and criticisms on Natsir's thought and struggle during the course of his life. Among the presenters are Anwar Harjono, Nurcholis Madjid, Taufik Abdullah, Ichlasul Amal and Yusril Ihza Mahendra.

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the ruling United Malay National Organization (UMNO) Anwar Ibrahim, who used to study with Natsir, was scheduled to give a presentation but was unable to attend.

Anwar Harjono, Natsir's successor at Dewan Dakwah Islam Indonesia (Indonesian Islam Dakwa Council or DDII), contended that Natsir had never seen any problem between Islam and nationalism.

He quoted Natsir as saying that "We can become devoted Moslems, who are at the same time happy to sing Indonesia Tanah Airku (Indonesia Is My Fatherland)."

Natsir viewed that it is not necessary for a Moslem to shed his cultural and nationalist traits because the Holy Koran says that Allah has made human being into nations and tribes.

Historian Taufik Abdullah recalls that Natsir viewed nationalism as something given, and therefore Islamic state is not a must. "What was more important for Natsir is a nation which could give freedom for its citizens to implement the rules of their religions."

Religious culture

Ichlasul Amal, of Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University, said nationalism should not undermine religious culture of Islam.

It is more important to keep religious culture in the correct context because if it applied out of proportion, it could lead to fundamentalism.

Also, if nationalism is treated excessively by pushing unity as the main target, then it will lead to chauvinism. And if nationalism is considered to paramount to everything else, it will become a new religion which will lead to primordialism, Ichlasul Amal said.

Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher in his written speech said that, as a politician, Natsir was a Moslem nationalist who saw no contradiction between Pancasila and Islam -- even though Natsir used to bring up the principles of an Islamic state before the National Constituent Assembly in 1956.

"His support for Pancasila can be seen from his efforts to explain Pancasila to international communities," said Tarmizi. In 1950, for example, Natsir spoke in Karachi, Pakistan, on Pancasila, the first speech made by an Indonesian leader abroad on the state ideology.

Noted Islamic reformer Nurcholis Madjid said that in Natsir's argument, Pancasila is below Islam because the religion could accommodate other ideologies.

"Moslems could accept Pancasila as their ideology as it is in line with Islam. However, if Pancasila wants to survive here forever, it must be flexible. "It is impossible for an ideology to accommodate changes if it is not open to change," Nurcholis argued. (11)