Religiosity must renounce vengeance

I was petrified to read your interview with the acting chairman of Muhammadiyah, Ahmad Syafii Maarif in The Jakarta Post edition of Feb. 12, 2000. Although he claimed he and his organization were "not radical", almost in the same breath he irresponsibly uttered that in the Maluku case, a jihad is the right thing to do. What is even more horrible was his statement, "The Koran says whoever is acting outlandishly, then make him or her pay as much as what he or she has done (to you). If they destroy your house and kill your brothers or sisters, you may also burn their houses and kill them." To soften this philosophical bravado, he added, "Of course, it would be better if you could forgive them."

I believe the Koran, as with the Bible, could be interpreted in any way to suit one's own need, either compassionately or by way of vengeance (peace or war). However, the fact this statement was coming from a supposedly pious and learned Muslim and the head of the second largest Muslim organization in Indonesia with 20 million followers is really mortifying and upsetting. One can only imagine what radical Muslims are like if their "moderate and sensible" leaders believe in the philosophy of vengeance. And one can only imagine what kind of pathetic situation our country and people are facing. I think he should have been decent enough to realize that revenge cannot be justified, either morally or intellectually. He should have also been wise enough to know that it never works to solve problems. If it could, we would not have seen the Ambon tragedy in the first place. Hatred cannot be appeased with hatred, that is the golden rule pure and simple. And besides, what moral grounds do you have to judge and point a finger at others if you stoop to the same level they do: they killed our sons, so let's kill their sons; they raped our daughters, so it's okay to rape their daughters. It doesn't take a religion for anyone to subscribe to common sense and common decency.

I am not a Christian, but how universally true rings Jesus' saying "do unto others as you would have them do unto you". I really hope that his irresponsible statements are not the "official" view of mainstream Muslims and Muslim leaders in the country. Perhaps anyone with Islamic authority could clarify this for the sake of Muslims themselves, the majority of whom, I believe, are not violent people. Only Muslims can purify their not-so-favorable image in the eyes of non-believers worldwide by, among other things, standing up and condemning their mind- numbing, insensible mullahs' fatwa or statements. We are in the international spotlight and, for heaven's sake, this kind of shallow religiosity won't entice foreign investors to step foot in our country. I sincerely hope that in the future the Post will not be so quick to disseminate this kind of inflammatory, profane philosophy from a so-called God-fearing religious leader.

RAHAYU RATNANINGSIH

Jakarta