Subang, NU Online
Chairman of lawmaking body (Rais Syuriyah) of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) KH Masdar F. Mas'udi urged mosques established and managed by Nahdliyin (NU followers) to be immediately labeled with NU attributes. The attributes with NU logo like almanac and prayer times could be attached the wall of mosques.<>

"Will this lead to the strengthening of ashabiyah (group fanaticism) among the Muslims," said Kiai Masdar before hundreds of participants attending the Regional Leadership Meeting (Rapimda) of The Nahdlatul Ulama Institute for Mosque Management (LTMNU) of Subang, over the weekend.

Kiai Masdar replied, no!

He then quoted the rules of Islamic jurisprudence, la dharar wa la dhirar, meaning an individual should not harm others or be harmed by others. In the context of the NU mosques, it could freely be interpreted do not hijack mosques of others and do not let them take our own mosques.

He added that mosques that are not labeled could be the places where disputes will probably emerge between groups. If the mosque was labeled with NU logos, other groups would know that it belonged to someone else.

NU should allow other groups to pray in the NU mosques, but they should be treated as guests that can not interfere with the mosques' domestic affairs.

"So what if someone says that every mosque belongs to God," he asked.

He answered with an analogy, if a thief takes our possession, he would say also that the possession stolen belongs to God.

Editor: Sudarto Murtaufiq