Jombang, NU Online
General Chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) KH Said Aqil Siroj (Kang Said) reiterated the meaning of Islam Nusantara which is often misunderstood by some of the communities, saying that it was not a new sect or belief system but was a term religiously inherent with the nature of Islam in the Archipelago (Nusantara).<>

In his speech at the Opening Ceremony of the NU 33rd Congress in the Jombang square, East Java, on Saturday (1/8), Kang Said said that Islam Nusantara was the face of Islam having so far been embraced by Muslims in the country and based itself on four spirits.

The four spirits are so-called ruhud diniyyah (spirit of religiousity), ruhul wathaniyah (spirit of nationalism), ruhut ta'addudiyyah (spirit of unity in diversity) and ruhul insaniyyah (spirit of humanity). 

"Such spirits have so far been unheld by Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), said Kang Said in the meeting that is also attended by President Joko Widodo, high officials of state, ambassadors of friendly countries, the Muslim scholars (ulema) of the Middle East, and tens of thousands of audience.

According to Kang Said, Islam Nusantara is a term that refers to the khashaish (privilege) of Islamic teachings of indigenous people, namely Muslims who are able to merge in harmony with cultural heritages in addition to adhering to the four spirits.

He said that Indonesian Muslims should have a high spirit of religiousity without excessively desiring to formalize it the constitution. 

NU, he said, until now had confirmed its commitment of obedience to the constitution, whoever the president is for it has become part of the nationalism that burns in the chest of Nahdliyin (NU members).

The man earning his PhD from the Mecca's Umm Al-Qura University also warned that Muslims must be aware of the fate of diversity in society. Moreover, Indonesia is a country littered fully with a diversity of ethnicity, customs, religion, and culture.

Islam Nusantara, Said Kang added, had also become the character of Islam very caring and respect for human and humanity. "This is Islam Ahlussunah wal Jamaah, which we inherited from the Muslim saints (auliya), especially Wali Songo," he said. (masdar)