REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — Former Muhammadiyah Chairman Din Syamsuddin held a meeting with ustaz Abdul Somad on last Saturday (Nov 3). One of the things discussed in the meeting was about persecution incidents experienced by ustaz Somad in some places.

“The incident should not happen again. Slander, for example about anti-Pancasila accusation, can be targeted to anyone easily. Muslims had enough of it,” said Din in a written statement on Sunday (Nov 4).

According to Din, in one or two decades of New Order in Indonesia, Muslims had been living with slander, as if Muslims are against Pancasila. He said it hurt deeply, especially when Muslims was accused to develop caliphate and others.

“Caliphate is an Islamic teaching, we can’t deny it but don’t accuse we are anti-Pancasila when talk about it,” Din who is former president's special envoy for interfaith dialog and cooperation and civilization added in a written statement received by Republika.co.id on Sunday.

Also read: Being intimidated, ustaz Somad cancels some of his lectures

Din considered it as a form of logical error. He said lectures deliverd by ustaz Somad explained about caliphate from al Qur’an. Ustaz Somad is also hadith expert, so he viewed it from Islamic teaching.

“Muslims, every one time will be gifted by the presence of ustaz and cleric as enlighteners to the people, so I think it’s a religious mission and it’s important to the nation, so don’t always see it politically,” Din explained.

Din expected in the future, there will be no similar efforts to pitted Muslims against each other.

“So to all Muslims, Islamic organizations or mass organizations, let’s hold Islam, no need to blame other people’s understanding,” Din said.

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