Religion will not prosper through violence

Religion will not prosper through violence

The arrest of Muslim leaders known for their hard-line stance
has contributed to fears of reprisals from Muslims. The Jakarta
Post's Soeryo Winoto talked to the leader of Nahdlatul Ulama, the
country's largest Muslim organization, Hasyim Muzadi, who shared
his views on the current situation.

Question: Police have detained ulemas Abu Bakar Ba'asyir for
alleged terror-related cases, and Habib Rizieq Shihab, chairman
of Islam Defenders' Front (FPI), for alleged violence. What do
you see will be the effect on the Muslim community in the
country?

Answer: The most important thing is proving the offenses they
have been charged with ... If they are found innocent, let them
free. ... They have not been arrested for being Muslim but for
applying inappropriate methods to develop Islam. The methods are
against our legal system and our culture. I've told them that in
our history not a single religion has developed through violence;
the fact that 87 percent of the population is Muslim is not
because of violence.

That figure was reached through cultural, economic, welfare
and educational approaches, not violence. I've also said that
someday they would come up against their own Muslim brothers ...
(because) Habib Rizieq's people vandalizing discotheques is
against Islam. Eliminating vice must not be done through another
vice.

Would the above arrests of Muslim hard-liners be due to
pressure from other governments such as the U.S.?

It could be, but a request from another nation would not be
the sole reason. Maybe the U.S. government asked Indonesia (to be
tough against terrorism). In any case, the development of Islam
through violence must be stopped. The gain is less than the
impact of the action.

History has proven that violence through demonstrations,
battles and rebellions (in the name of religion) has never been
fruitful here. It just leaves scars and wounds among Muslims.

Any extreme movement that uses religion, proletarianization
and communism must also be eliminated.

Has politicization of Islam encouraged its diversity of
followers?

Islam is one (as a religion), but followers differ ... There
are people with mature knowledge about Islam, many with vague
knowledge and many others with very "raw" knowledge and
understanding of Islam. Sociological background also differs
among Muslims. Poverty and injustice, for example, could
influence a community, including Muslim communities.

So care must be applied in considering whether a movement is
religious or one produced by sociological interaction ...

As the leader of the biggest Muslim organization, have you met
with the leaders of radical organizations, which in many cases
use the banner of religion in their struggles?

When I was in Ambon (the capital of the restive Maluku
province) I met with leaders of 11 radical organizations. I told
them that Islam has never taught offensive actions against other
religions. I cited what Prophet Muhammad had done (in the
battles) was just in self defense, not aggression.

Soon after Prophet Muhammad had conquered Mecca, he said that
everybody, including the enemies, were secure. The churches and
synagogues could hold services without fear. No single tree must
be uprooted or cut. This means that there must be no killing ...

The movements (such as) Darul Islam with its Tentara Islam
Indonesia (Indonesian Muslim Warriors) have all failed to develop
Islam through violence.

I believe Muslims were also among the (Bali) bomb victims.

At a Friday noon prayer at the National Police headquarters, I
met National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar, and (former) Laskar
Jihad commander Ja'far Umar Thalib (who was being detained). I
was the preacher at that time. Afterwards I asked Ja'far what he
was thinking when he learned that -- after fighting with swords
in the name of Islam -- that he was performing prayers alongside
the man responsible for his arrest. He was stunned briefly and
then asked me why I asked him such a question. I said that the
question was just for contemplation and needed no answer.

So, who is the real Muslim? Why do some claim that they are
the best and most devout Muslims. Are the kyai (Islamic teachers)
who have devoted their lives for pesantren (Islamic boarding
schools) lesser Muslims?

Ja'far Umar Thalib disbanded Laskar Jihad, saying that the
organization had violated religious teachings. Your comment?

This reflects inconsistency of thought. This is evidence that
violence is a product of social interaction, not religion.
Religion is fixed and permanent. The product of social
interaction is not based on Islamic dogma and teachings, but of
the understanding of the principal amar ma'ruf nahi mungkar (to
encourage virtue and discourage vice).

If they use a wrong method it will be counterproductive. Islam
now has a bad image, and hatred has been poured on Muslims who
know nothing about radicalism and terror.

What should the government and the people do regarding radical
organizations that act under the banner of Islam?

For the government law enforcement is the key. While people
must deepen their knowledge about religion, they must remember
that they live in Indonesia.

The young people who have joined clashes (in conflict areas)
... know jihad, but they do not know what being patient means.
They are aware of things banned by Islam, but they forget
istighfar (asking forgiveness from God). They can say Allahuakbar
(Allah is great), but they have never said Astagfirullah (Allah,
please forgive me).

They live in Indonesia, not in the Middle East, so things must
be adjusted to Indonesia's culture, which respects pluralism.

They lack the spirit of unity.

NU was previously involved in politics. How have you applied
the principal of NU returning to its roots of nonpolitical
activities (kembali ke khittah)?

Khittah is a term that contains many things, but basically it
means applying religion according to actual conditions in
Indonesia. In a general sense khittah means avoiding practical
politics.

We develop principles to respect our NU members, to respect
people from other religions and ideologies based on
nationalism ...

Through the khittah NU will become the nation's most important
asset. In the hands of NU religion is peaceful and tolerant. NU
sees that the country must not become an Islamic state. The
inclusion of Islamic values in the Constitution and way of living
is enough. We have never formalized religion in the state.

No religion condones and supports gambling, corruption and
prostitution. The government can just formulate antigambling,
anticorruption and antiprostitution laws and regulations with
Islamic values in them, so as not to disturb the sensitivities of
other religions and ideologies. In this way religion can develop
properly in the nation state.