REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI) said serious efforts are needed from all parties to maintain harmony. One of the efforts is to avoid the covert movement of apostasy. By doing so, the nation will be protected from conflict and division.
MUI Fatwa Commission secretary Asrorun Niam Sholeh said Ijtima Ulema's Fatwa Commission of Indonesia VI Year 2018 emphasized the need to build three concept of ukhuwah (brotherhood) as pillars in strengthening the Unitary Republic of Indonesia (NKRI), namely ukhuwah Islamiyah' (Islamic brotherhood), 'ukhuwah wathoniyah' (national brotherhood), and 'ukhuwah basyariyah' (humanitarian brotherhood).
Ukhuwah insaniyah or fraternal brotherhood of mankind can encourage people to help each other, without seeing differences in race, ethnicity, nation, religion, and group. Efforts to help each other should not be a covert movement to convert Muslims from Islam.
Efforts to help each other must not be a covered movement to apostasy from Islam, said Asrorun in a written statement received on Thursday (June 7).
He said it was not easy to realize the unity and integrity of the nation in pluralistic country. Moreover, each group has various interests and aspirations that can lead to conflict.
Therefore, every people in Indonesia is bound by national commitment. They must live together in peacefully and harmoniously as fellow children of the nation while upholding the principles of nationality that have become mutual agreement, Asrorun said.
All parties and components of this nation must always consciously maintain a harmonious relationship of brotherhood between Muslims, between children of the nation, and between human, Asrorun added.
Earlier, President's Special Envoy for Interfaith Dialog and Cooperation and Civilization Din Syamsuddin revealed that Muslim were often offended by the development of Christian mission in Indonesia. Several studies have shown that the growth rate of Protestants increases every year, especially in some Muslim enclaves, such as Yogyakarta and West Sumatra.
"These data thicken the issue of Christianization, which in turn contributes to the development of Islamic radicalism in Indonesia," said Din before more than 300 Christian religious leaders of the 2018 Gospl Conference in Brastagi, North Sumatra, on Friday (June 1).
Din reminded that Congregation of Religious Leaders for Harmony held by UKP-DKAAP in Jakarta in February has agreed that relation among religious believers should rest on frienship on the basis of true humanity. On the other hand, harmony must not impade mission and da'wah. "Conversely, mission and da'wah should not interfere with harmony," said Din, who is also Chairman of the Advisory Council of the MUI.
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