Jakarta, wahidinstitute.org
Islam, which initially began as a movement for liberation, in now often reduced to a movement viewed quite negatively due to the actions of only a few of its followers. “A firm attitude is needed to put the soul of Islamic teachings back on the right track again.”

Thus spoke the director of the WAHID Institute, Yenny Wahid, during the opening to the National Bahtsul Masail (Meeting) on the theme The Role of Pesantren and Religious Leaders in Preventing Religiously Based Violence, in Hotel Bintang Griyawisata, Jl. Raden Saleh No 16, Jakarta 10430, Monday (24/03/ 2008). This event, held Sunday-Tuesday (23-25/03/2008), was facilitated by the WAHID Institute in cooperation with the Mata Air Foundation, Jakarta.

Further, Yenny added, recently we have witnessed the desires and judgments of some groups being forced on the religious teachings or beliefs of others who are different. This, she said, also reduces Islam to an entirely formalistic religion.

“It is here that the role of the kyai is very central, because they are still considered to have significant roles in giving out legitimation within society,” Yenny said.

She believes what is needed is revitalization of the roles of kyai and pesantren as the people needed to return the pesantren to being a symbolic power which holds Islam as the liberator it truly is.

The fourth president of the Republic of Indonesia, KH Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur), spoke more in his speech about the relationship of Islam with the state. Gus Dur said that protecting the United States of the Republic of Indonesia was a religious obligation. This was based on the original views of the very first NU kyai. “So a religious state is not needed. This is the most important thing we need to teach the younger generation. They don’t know it,” Gus Dur said.

Consequently, Gus Dur said, all Islamic organisations in the country must formulate their nationalism individually. Groups labeled as extremist, fundamentalist, or radical, for example, also formulate their nationalism. Though it is likely, Gus Dur added, that their formulations of nationalism differ from those of NU or Muhammadiyah.

“The nationalism of HTI has its own formulation. It’s only fair. They are also human. Like it or not, they have to because the 1945 constitution requires they uphold a spirit of nationalism,” Gus Dur stressed.

For these hard-line groups, Gus Dur suggested that we find elements of similarity and not difference. If not, “war” would result. And, he reminded, Muslims should not consider other Muslims as kafir (infidels).

“I don’t want to become an infidel. So I don’t want to say that they’re infidels. Because people who believe in God and Muhammad as His messenger can’t be harmed. Rather, I just don’t want to let those fundamentalists have a stronger belief than mine,” Gus Dur said.

Head of Pesantren Raudhatut Thalibin, Rembang, Central Java, KH A Mustofa Bisri suggested that a variety of violent occurrences in the name of religion were a warning from Allah for pesantren. “We are being criticised by various events, including violence. This is only what I think. If you don’t agree, that’s quite fine, no worries,” Gus Mus said to laughter.

Gus Mus believes that pesantren have followed in the footsteps of proselytizers in Indonesia, such as the Wali Songo (nine saints), who not only taught religion, ta’lim (respect) and tarbiyah (education), but also tarbiyyah sulukiyyah (education in morality). “Pesantren need to take such a position. If not, not only will Indonesia decay, but so too will the world,” he warned.

Unfortunately however, Gus Mus said that recently the roles of kyai and pesantren are barely seen or felt. “Is this because pesantren managers have lost enthusiasm, lost interest in deepening their knowledge, or what?” he asked.

So then, what has caused these occurrences of violence in the name of religion? Gus Mus believes it is because of enormous enthusiasm for religion but minimal religious knowledge. In the end, such people convince themselves of the truth by accusing others.

The violence itself, he added, does not originate from villages, but from cities. “Pesantren and kyai are peaceful because they’re from the village. My peaceful manner is not because I’m from a pesantren,” he said.

This event was attended by about 35 ulama, nyai and religious activists from regions throughout Indonesia. They included KH Abdurrahman Wahid (Jakarta), KH A Mustofa Bisri (Rembang), KH Dr Zaki Mubarak (Jakarta), KH A Malik Madani (Yogyakarta), KH A Thonthowi J Musaddad MA (Garut), KH Maftuh Kholil (Bandung), KH Dr Imam Ghozali Said (Surabaya), K Imam Nakho’i MA (Situbondo), KH Wasil Syarbini (Jember), KH Dr Musta’in Syafi’i (Jombang), Mujiburrahman PhD (Banjarmasin), TGH Subki Sasaki and Baiq Elly Mahmudah (Lombok NTB), Hj Hindun Anisa MA (Jepara), and Hj Siti Huzaenah (Purwokerto).

Also present were KH Najib Hasan (Kudus), KH Abdul Chobir (Cipasung Tasikmalaya), KH Baharuddin (Makassar), Gurutta Imran Mu’in Yusuf Lc (Sidrap South Sulawesi), KH Ubaidillah Sodaqoh and KH A Buchori Masrurie (Semarang), KH M Dian Nafi‘ (Solo), KH Jazuli Kasmani (Klaten), KH Yusuf Chudlori (Magelang), KH Maman Imanulhaq (Cirebon), K Muhammad Furqan (Temanggung), Gus Nanang Maulani (Garut), Dindin Abdullah Ghozali (Bandung), and Gus Fauzi Shahab (Banyumas).