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his is in reference to Guntur Sutriyono letter titled “Religious difference”, printed in The Jakarta Post, on May 6. If you learn the history of religions (Islam, Christianity, Judaism also called the Abrahamic religions) you will find such religions in line with what I mention simply as “the scenarios of God”.

They historically worship the same God. Islam is the last Abrahamic religion that came down for a straightforward way of worship. Islam admits what Moses (Musa), Dawood (David) and Isa (Jesus) spread as God’s messages. Therefore, we call them messengers of God. We accordingly admit there are holy books from God such as Psalms, the Torah and the Bible.

As is written in the Koran, those who followed such messengers revealed the truth. Finally, Islam came down at the time as a new but old religion to remind believers who had strayed. Believers should return to “there is no God but God [Allah]”. Muhammad is a chosen man to bring risalah (the teaching of Islamic values). Then, the believers of Islam (Muslims) admit that there is no God but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God. This is the first pillar of the five principles of being a Muslim.

Mentioned in the Koran are plenty of prophets, however, the messengers (rasul) are only 25 (from Adam, Moses and David to Jesus and Muhammad). They brought their own prophecies derived from the same God.

Referring to the Koran, which says Muhammad is the last prophet, there is no prophet or prophecy afterward. If Muslim people believe there is an additional prophet (e.g. Ahmadis believe Mirza Ghulam Ahmad is the last prophet), that means they have gone astray. If there is polemic, discourse or debate about interpreting Koran verses, we Muslims should listen to what jumhur ulama (the majority of credible and knowledgeable Islamic clerics deciding the status of debatable cases) say.  

I certainly do not agree with violence, persecution and the like. I do not hate Ahmadis. I love them. But it is my obligation to propagate whatever the clerics say. Most clerics say that if Ahmadiyah calls itself a separate religion and the government admits it as a new religion, the tension will subside and Muslims should accept Ahmadiyah. Of course people may not agree with my view, but it doesn’t mean we cannot respect each other.

Aries Musnandar
Malang