REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SURABAYA -- Prominent preacher ustaz Yusuf Mansur commented on the result of Ulema Ijtima' II announced on Sunday which stated support to presidential candidate of the opposition camp, Prabowo Subianto and his running mate Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno for next year's election. Ustaz Yusuf acknowledged that on the same day, some 400 kiai and Islamic boarding schools officials throughout Indonesia for the incumbent President Joko Widodo who paired with KH Ma'ruf Amin.
According to ustaz Yusuf, the support of ulemas to the two pair of candidates should not be disputed. Differences were natural, including for the scholars.
"We should understand that Indonesia is big, we have a lot of mosques, schools, and Islamic boarding schools. So, it's natural to have different choices," he stated after attending a seminar in Surabaya, East Java, on Monday.
Ustaz Yusuf said the people needed to respond wisely to the differences of ulemas' opinion. He called on the people to respect other people's choice without having to vilify each other.
"At least we have options. Now, what matter is to respect all options available," he stated.
Decision to support Prabowo-Sandiaga was taken by the National Movement to Support Ulema's Fatwa (GNPF Ulama) during Ulemas Ijtima II held on Sunday (Sept 16). The Ulemas Ijtima II lent its support after Prabowo who is a former commandant of the Army's elite strike force Kapassus, signed an integrity pact made by the Ulemas.
GNPF gave its blessing to Sandiaga to be Prabowo's running mate despite he was not nominated by the result of the first ulemas' meeting on last July. At that time, GNPF nominated preacher Abdul Somad and Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) Syura (Advisory) Council chairman Salim Segaf Al-Jufri to run with Prabowo in presidential election 2019.
Decision to support Prabowo-Sandiaga was taken by the National Movement to Support Ulema's Fatwa (GNPF Ulama) during Ulemas Ijtima II held on Sunday (Sept 16). The Ulemas Ijtima II lent its support after Prabowo who is a former commandant of the Army's elite strike force Kapassus, signed an integrity pact made by the Ulemas.
GNPF gave its blessing to Sandiaga to be Prabowo's running mate despite he was not nominated by the result of the first ulemas' meeting on last July. At that time, GNPF nominated preacher Abdul Somad and Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) Syura (Advisory) Council chairman Salim Segaf Al-Jufri to run with Prabowo in presidential election 2019.
Meanwhile, also on Sunday, around 400 kiai and Islamic boarding schools leaders declared their support to Kiai Ma'ruf who is Nahdlatul Ulama supreme leader and chairman of Indonesian Ulema Council. Through Ittefaq ulema, they expressed support to Kiai Ma'ruf candidacy as Jokowi's running mate.
The kiai said they would be proud to have an ulema as national leader. He assumed Kiai Ma'ruf candidacy as part of dawah.
"It has become our obligation to support the ulema to be national leader, " KH Noer Muhammad Iskandar, leader of the Asshiddiqiyah Islamic Boarding School said in Jakarta on Sunday.
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