Statement of UIN Jakarta on Harmony in Indonesia

Statement of UIN Jakarta on Harmony in Indonesia

  • 12 February 2018
  • 8 min read
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Rectorate, UIN NEWS Online - Rector of UIN Jakarta Prof. Dr. Dede Rosyada MA was invited to attend the Musyawarah Besar Pemuka Agama Untuk Kerukunan Bangsa 2018 (Discussion of Religious Leaders for Harmony 2018) at Grand Sahid Jaya Hotel, Jakarta, Thursday-Saturday 8-10 February 2018. This event was held to gather any inputs from all religious leaders related to the current condition and in the future. The event was opened by the Presidential envoy for Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation Dr. Din Syamsudin MA.

Responding to the issue of religious harmony in Indonesia, Rector of UIN Jakarta along with a number of academicians formulated some statements of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. The academicians, Professor of the Faculty of Ushuluddin Prof. Dr. Zainun Kamal MA, Lecturer of Tafsir Dr. KH. Abdul Moqsith Ghazali MA, Lecturer of Religious Studies Ismatu Rofi Ph.D, Lecturer from the Faculty of Adab and Humanities Dr. Irfan Abu Bakar MA, and Lecturer from Faculty of Da'wah and Communication Sciences Helmi Hidayat M.Sc.

Below are statements of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta regarding Religious Harmony in Indonesia:

Various issues of the nation rooted in the diversity of Indonesian society, ranging from differences in ethnicity, race, class and religion. It requires contribution from all elements of the nation to reduce every friction that is very likely sticking out due to the difference. President Joko Widodo's policy to establish the Presidential Work Unit for Interreligious Dialogue, Cooperation and Civilization must be positively welcomed by all parties. State Islamic University (UIN) Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta is at the forefront of positively welcoming the establishment of this presidential working unit.

UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta also responded positively to the "Musyawarah Besar Pemuka Agama Untuk Kerukunan Bangsa 2018" at Hotel Syahid Jaya, Jakarta, 8 - 11 February 2018, organized by Presidential Work Unit for Interreligious Dialogue, Cooperation and Civilization led by Prof. Dr. Din Syamsuddin. In this context, as an higher education institution, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta feels the need to create a standing position concerning seven major themes that often included  in many diversity issues of Indonesia: 1) Views and attitudes of religions about the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI ) based on Pancasila: 2) Views and attitudes of the faithful on the concept of Unity in Diversity; 3) Views and attitudes of the religious people about the legitimate government of democratic election results based on the constitution; 4) Principles of harmony among religious followers; 5) ethics of inter-community harmony; 6) Religious broadcast and the construction of houses of worship; and, 7) Recommendations on non-religious factors that interfere with interfaith harmony.

First, the formation of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) based on Pancasila, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta on behalf of and as the academic center argues that the form of state of NKRI based on Pancasila is final. This scholarly institution continues to appreciate the idea of ​​the nation founding fathers who have agreed that the form of the Indonesian state is unity; because the population of Indonesia is diverse in terms of ethnicity, religion, race and intergroup, the Pancasila that accommodates diversity is considered suitable to be the foundation of this country. This scientific attitude is reinforced by one of the qualitative and quantitative researches about the style and direction of Indonesian Muslim youth diversity that has just been done in 18 cities across Indonesia by one of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta research institute. The research concludes that young Indonesian Muslim respondents positively commented on the state of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, Pancasila as the basis of the state, the 1945 Constitution, and the principles of Bhineka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity). Normatively, the survey results indicate an above average rate of 85%, with which it can be concluded that Indonesian Muslim youth accept the existence of four pillars of nationality and state held by the Republic of Indonesia.

Secondly, the survey does show that there are a small number of Muslim youth who are identified as radical or even extremist, but they are in the enclaves or organizations that BNPT has identified as radical, including the Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) organization. In spite of their small numbers, they are not without influence and therefore still have to be the focus of attention and study of scholarship especially related to the study of harmony among religious followers. Referring to the Wahid Foundation research, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta reminded that the number of radical groups now reach 11% of the total population of Indonesia or equivalent to 600,000 people. They are indicated to have been involved in radical acts. That number is outside the 11 million people suspected of being ready for radical action.

Third, About the concept of Bhineka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity), UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta argues that diversity is considered necessary, and even sunnatullah. Large community organizations such as Nahdhatul Ulama (NU), Muhammadiyah and Persis have performed their role in sowing this diversity. Similarly, Islamic student organizations such as the Islamic Student Association (HMI), Indonesian Islamic Student Movement (PMII), and Muhammadiyah Student Association (IMM).

Fourth, Regarding the legitimate government of democratic election results based on the constitution, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta affirms that Indonesia is not an Islamic state and therefore invites all components of the nation to support the constitution which has been created and mutually agreed, including all legal instruments relating to the election of heads government at the national and regional levels. Any citizen, shall be entitled to exercise his political right to elect a future leader and / or to be elected as a potential leader Every citizen shall have the right to exercise his political right to elect a candidate for leader and / or to be elected as a candidate without any discrimination of race, religion, or class.

Fifth, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta appreciates the principles of harmony between religious believers who have been running all the components of the nation in order to avoid friction that may harm all religious people in Indonesia. The higher education institute is currently in and continues to conduct scientific research to find new formulas around the principles of harmony among religious believers to be more ideal.

Sixth, Regarding the ethics of interfaith harmony, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta waited patiently and will respect the ''Ethics and Guidelines of Interfaith Life'' which is now being drafted by the Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI).

Seventh, in order to avoid friction and / or arouse suspicion among religious people, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta asks all parties to respect the Letter of Agreement between Ministry of Religious Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs which contains the agreement about the house of worship establishment. By referring to the letter of agreement, we can maintain the harmony and suspicion among the nation's peers can be avoided. These guidelines should be immediately made and socialized to as many people as possible so as not to arise among religious believers.

Eighth, along with this event, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta gives the following recommendations:

  • The government, law enforcement in particular, should carry out the mandate of law enforcement honestly, rightly and correctly, so that public confidence in Pancasila, the 1945 Constitution, and positive law based on the basis and ideology of the country is increasing;
  • All parties should return to the basis and ideology of the country that has been agreed upon since Indonesia's independence as the rule of the nation and state in order that the existing diversity is maintained.
  • If the law has been enforced properly, there should be no reason for anyone to seek alternatives other than the positive law we have mutually agreed upon.
  • All components of the nation should refrain from capitalizing religious issues and or making houses of worship as centers of election campaigns of state leaders at the national or regional levels because based on existing experience, the capitalization of these religious issues has split the nation in a dichotomy diametrically.
  • Preaching guideline that have been made by the Ministry of Religious Affairs should be re-socialized, because it must be realized that the sermon or lecture of every religious leader will give a big influence on each people.
  • All components of the nation should continue to widen the shared harmony of living based on tolerance, multiculturalism and religious freedom which in turn will provide equal political rights and opportunities.
  • All elements of society should be more mature in responding the massive social media information in their hands, in which it is very likely to contain slander, conflict, lies in the name of tribe, religion, race and intergroup (SARA). (usa)