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View all search resultsModerate Islam and the future of Indonesia-Saudi Arabia cooperation
Indonesia is most likely to be the best-suited counterpart for Saudi Arabia in building a new world of Islam characterized by moderation and tolerance.
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T
he commitment of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to the promotion of moderate Islam in Indonesia has made him a distinct leader. For the first time in the history of Indonesia, a president has shown concern about the importance of moderate Islam for the nation’s development.
It is not a call for Indonesian Muslims only but also the Muslim world, especially after Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi included the promotion of moderate Islam among the priorities of Indonesian foreign policy.
The world, with moderation and tolerance, as Jokowi envisions, suits Saudi Arabia’s struggle against extremism and terrorism under the banner of Islam. Therefore, the notion of wasathiyatul (moderate) Islam could be a better backbone for diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Indonesia and Saudi Arabia share the challenge of turning the Muslim world into an exemplary community committed to moderation and tolerance. In this regard, Indonesia is most likely to be the best-suited counterpart for Saudi Arabia, the most influential Islamic kingdom in the world, in building a new world of Islam characterized by moderation and tolerance.
As the world’s largest predominantly Muslim country, Indonesia, with its dense diversity, is widely known as the best place for religious tolerance to grow. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia has apparently been the most prominent Muslim country in the Middle East region, which is home to 20 countries with a population of approximately 500 million who speak the same language and share the history, culture and experience under the notion of Arab (Angrist, 2019).
Compared to other Arab states, Saudi Arabia has been considered the most stable country. The wave of the Arab Spring in 2010, to some extent, has been responded to well by the kingdom of Saudi Arabia through internal reforms.
The concern of Saudi Arabia to become a modern-Islamic monarchy can be viewed from its policy upon the role of women. The kingdom has allowed women to drive and work outside their homes. At the same time, Saudi Arabia’s economy shows confidence. Saudi Arabia is altering its image as a conservative Islamic kingdom. In fact, as far as I know, Saudi citizens are open-minded, humble and tolerant.
