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Islam Nusantara can protect RI from fundamentalism
Analysts have argued that the concurrent promotion of moderate Islamic thinking by both Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah, the countryâs two largest Muslim organizations, was a positive indication that Muslims in Indonesia are generally more wary of firebrand versions of Islam
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nalysts have argued that the concurrent promotion of moderate Islamic thinking by both Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah, the country's two largest Muslim organizations, was a positive indication that Muslims in Indonesia are generally more wary of firebrand versions of Islam.
Muslim thinker Akhmad Sahal said that NU's promotion of Islam Nusantara, and Muhammadiyah's Islam Berkemajuan (progressive Islam), resulted from a long history of Islamic teachings being contextualized within local Indonesian culture.
Sahal said that Islam Nusantara showed the character of a progressive faith.
Islam Nusantara promotes the idea that values derived from religion can be made consistent with local context.
'We aren't practicing Islamic teachings or values as they are practiced in Saudi Arabia,' said Sahal, who is also chairman of the US branch of NU.
Sahal, however, said that Islam Nusantara should not be considered as synonymous with other local traditions such as klenik (black magic) or Islam Kejawen (Islam tinged with Javanese mysticism).
'Islam Nusantara means we are focused on muamalah [social duties] and maslahat [the general good] that the community, in this case Indonesia, must strive for,' he said.
Earlier this month, in its 33rd national congress in Jombang, East Java, NU promoted its agenda of 'reinforcing Islam Nusantara for Indonesia and for international civilization'.
NU said that the concept of Islam Nusantara, according to Imam, referred to the empirical and historical reality that Islam had been embedded in the culture, economy, politics and technology of the archipelago for a long time.
The idea of Islam Nusantara is to inculcate tolerance among Muslims amid the metastasizing influence of conservative and radical groups from Middle Eastern countries.
Meanwhile, Hajriyanto Y. Thohari, a member of Muhammadiyah's executive board, said that the organization's version of Islam, known as Islam Berkemajuan, resulted from the need to adapt to a rapidly changing world.
'K.H Ahmad Dahlan once said that while practicing Islamic values, Indonesian Muslims should act progressively and follow the dictates of the time,' Hajriyanto said, referring to the founding father of Muhammadiyah.
He said that to act progressively, Indonesian Muslims should champion reason and continue to promote education and knowledge.
Hajriyanto said that other than implementing progressive values, Muhammadiyah always tried to match its values with secular and nationalist ideas.
'We always integrate Islamic values with modernity and Indonesian values,' he said.
Retiring Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin said Islam Berkemajuan was a vision of a modern and moderate Islam.
He said that Islam Berkemajuan was not specifically made by Muhammadiyah for Muslims in Indonesia alone, but for all people in the world, across all walks of life.
'This concept also deepens our tolerance for others by putting emphasis on Islam as a moderate religion,' Din said while addressing the congress earlier this month.
Many have applauded the moves taken by the two Muslim organizations in promoting a tolerant version of Islam, saying that Islamic discourse in the country was going in the right direction by supporting Indonesia's democracy.
There have also been mounting calls for NU and Muhammadiyah to work together to promote Indonesia's tolerant version of Islam around the world.
