REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) asked the imam of mosques across Indonesia to participate in spreading religious moderation. It was needed for the sake of unity of the people.
"The imams of the mosques need to continue to broadcast the notion of religious moderation for the togetherness of the people," said Director General of Islamic Guidance of Ministry, Muhammadiyah Amin in a written statement on Monday (Jan 28).
He also reminded the importance of mosque imams to understand the characteristics of pilgrims with their diversity. It was expected that the mosque imam would be able to convey da'wah in the right way.
"In essence, through the mosque pulpit, all Muslims are reminded to unite in aqeedah and worship. Tolerant in furu'iyah matters (branches) and prioritize the principle of mutual protection in carrying out muamalat and ukhuwah (brotherhood)," he said.
Amin said that the existence of a mosque in the midst of the people should not only be seen merely as a form of physical building. But the mosque should be seen as a multi-functional community institution.
"The function of a mosque is always related to the quality of the people, both from the moral, spiritual, and the quality of worldly life", he said.
He added, mosques had a very important role in building people into a society that were piety, prosperous and dignified. According to him, da'wah activities and religious formation in mosques needed to pay attention to the needs of the ummah, including the needs of the millennial generation.
"Actually, the millennial generation has the curiosity and interest in exploring religion. But they need an approach that might be different from the conventional propaganda approach," he said.
Finally, he invited the mosques imams to continue guarding the function of the mosque as a center of worship and fostering people who spread the messages of moderate Islam.
"Mosques must be 'a home of change' for Muslims towards a better quality of spiritual life, morals and social life. Let's keep the unity of the people, the unity of the nation and the unity of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia," he said.
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